MORGANTOWN —
Taking care of your teeth is critical and sets a foundation for your entire life, according to Dr. Dan Carrier of the Monongalia County Health Department.
That’s why on Wednesday kids could get their teeth cleaned and cared for at Give Kids a Smile Day.
Jessica Riley, a Morgantown resident brought her three little ones for a checkup on Wednesday. She said it’s very important they realize their oral health is important because it’s the only smile they get.
“It’s very convenient and nice to bring them here and have their teeth worked on and looked at and make sure they’re healthy,” she said.
She said her kids don’t mind coming to the dentist and come willingly. She said she makes sure they brush their teeth morning and night.
“They don’t want to stop doing what they’re doing. They don’t see the importance of it, but they’re getting there,” she said.
“We recommend that parents are bringing their children in for their first dental visit when they’re 1-year-old, Carrier said. “I often say that visit is more for the parents than it is for the child.”
Getting those check-ups in early sets a foundation for good oral health throughout childhood and a lifetime. Carrier said what’s good about Give Kids a Smile Day is the opportunity for the health department to open its doors to patients without insurance so financial obstacles are eliminated once or twice a year.
“We are offering cleanings, examinations and fluoride treatments for all the patients. Some patients are having sealants placed on teeth. We did a few extractions on teeth that needed to come out,” he said.
Give Kids a Smile Day is in partnership with Your Community Foundation. The day, in conjunction with the American Dental Association, is held in February but this year a snow storm affected the turnout.
“We were fortunate to get funding from Your Community Foundation that’s allowed us to be able to provide this a second time throughout the year and we thought what better time than right before school starts?” Carrier said.
Carrier said childhood experiences impact one throughout life — positive or negative.
One of the things he likes about Give Kids a Smile Day is hopefully kids have a positive experience they can remember.
“I think that these days very much create those positive experiences where they can come in, have their teeth cleaned and checked and have fluoride put on. Get a balloon, get a free toothbrush and then leave and it’s a fun thing,” he said.
MCHD offers a full dental office throughout the year and accepts most insurances. If a patient has no insurance, a sliding scale determines their payment based on income.
The dental office has expanded, said MaryWade Triplett, public information officer for MCHD. There are five chairs in the office and two in the mobile Smile Express vehicle.
“We used to only see kids and a lot of people still have that perception we still only see kids, but we see adults too. I come here,” she said.
