MCHD Dentistry gave area children something to grin about during its 14th annual Give Kids a Smile! event Friday.
The American Dental Association (ADA) launched Give Kids a Smile! in 2003 as a way for dental care providers to join with others in their communities to offer free dental services to underserved children.
“At MCHD Dentistry, we really love the opportunity to give back to our community,” Dr. Youseph Kassar, MCHD Dentistry’s program director, said. “With Give Kids a Smile!, as well as the similar Healthy Smiles Day for adults in November, we are happy to get to do that.”
Children and teens 18 years old and under without dental insurance were eligible to participate. During a 30- to 40-minute appointment, children received a dental checkup, a cleaning and a flouride treatment with a dental hygienist, and were seen by Kassar. All the appointments for this year’s event were filled.
“We also will be able to provide some restorative work when we can,” Kassar said.
This was the first Give Kids a Smile! with MCHD Dentistry’s two new, large, state-of-the art operatories in use. This allowed an extra dental hygienist to be on hand to provide care.
Each year, about 300,000 children nationally benefit from more than 1,500 Give Kids a Smile! events, thanks to the efforts of about 6,500 dentists and 25,000 other dental team members.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, untreated cavities can cause pain and infections and can lead to problems with eating, speaking and learning. More than 1 in 5 children aged 2 to 5 years has at least one cavity in their baby teeth. Children from low-income families are more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities, compared with children from higher-income households.
“Kids who get through childhood with fewer cavities will do better in school, be able to eat a healthier diet and will have a better chance of good dental health as an adult,” Kassar said.
For up-to-date information on health and wellness in Monongalia County, check out monchd.org and follow the health department on Facebook and Twitter @WVMCHD and on Instagram at #wvmch.
