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Give Kids A Smile Day 2006

Hundreds of children and their parents  filled the dental clinics in the School of Dental Medicine at the University at Buffalo on Feb. 3 for the fifth annual "Give Kids a Smile" day.

Children from across Western New York who do not have access to dental care received dental treatment free of charge that day, as part of the UB dental school's community outreach programs.

Children ages 1-18 (who do not have access to dental care) from local Head Start centers, elementary schools, high schools and Hearts-4-Homeless locations were transported to the school, along with their parents.  Over 180 volunteer dental faculty members, dental alumni, hygienist, dental assistants, residents, and dental profession students provided dental exams, fluoride treatments, X-rays, sealants, oral hygiene instruction and other consultations and referrals as needed to over 500 children.

For children 1-5 years of age there was a "Teddy Bear Clinic," where doctors, social workers and specialists in vision, speech, hearing and nutrition,  "examined" stuffed animals from the Winnie the Pooh Collection to help put the children at ease with exam procedures and with medical professionals.

The toys were donated by Fisher-Price through the Mattel Children's Foundation and by the Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network.

Demonstrations of hand washing and information on lead poisoning and its prevention was also provided. 

The Buffalo event is part of a national effort to encourage children to adopt good health habits early on, so they can avoid major problems later. In addition to UB, local co-sponsors of the event are Ivoclar Vivadent, a leading supplier of dental systems headquartered in Amherst, and the 8th District Dental Society. The event is supported nationally by the American Dental Association, Crest and Sullivan-Schein Dental Co. of West Allis, Wis.

Plans are already underway for next year's Give Kids A Smile Day .  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our program outreach coordinator, Rebecca Baty.

Information

For more information about National Children's Dental Health Month, please send and e-mail to our Community Dentistry Outreach Coordinator, Rebecca Baty .

 

 

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Last modified: 02/09/06

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