Underserved Children Wanted for Free Dental Care
According to the American Dental Association, children from families with annual incomes of $10,000 to $20,000 have 10 times more unmet dental needs than children whose families earn more than $50,000 per year. The Indiana Dental Association, through Give Kids a Smile day on Friday, February 1, wants to help these children receive the dental care they deserve.
Give Kids a Smile day offers desperately needed, comprehensive dental treatment to uninsured children from low-income families. For many of these kids, February 1 will be their first visit to a dentist, which is unfortunate when nearly 1 in 4 children, ages 2 to 11 years old, have untreated cavities in their baby teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It's heartbreaking to see a child's smile destroyed by severe tooth decay," said Dr. Catherine Periolat, Indiana Dental Association, Give Kids a Smile chair. "Imagine not being able to eat, sleep and pay attention in school because you have a mouth full of toothaches."
The Indiana Dental Association is estimating more than 2,500 children from low-income families across Indiana will receive free dental services ranging from cleanings, examinations, fillings, sealants, extractions and other dental procedures as part of the sixth annual Give Kids a Smile day. In 2007, over 2,240 Indiana children received more than $476,000 in comprehensive dental treatment, from the state's dental teams. This year's patients are estimated to receive $500,000 in dental care during the one-day event.
"Some children have reached the point where the only alternative is a mouth full of crowns or pulling the teeth that can't be saved. It's tragic," said Dr. Periolat.
Low-income families, with children ages 16 and under who do not have access to dental insurance, are encouraged to call (800) 304-8963 to schedule an appointment for February 1. The Indiana Dental Association is working closely with local United Way chapters, Head Start programs, school nurses, counselors and case workers to identify children who would benefit from Give Kids a Smile.
According to Dr. Periolat, "Dentists can't do this alone. With Give Kids a Smile, we can help some children get the dental care they need, but a one-day event will never be enough. Charity is not a health care system."
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