In continuing their shared mission to improve oral health among underserved children, the American Dental Association (ADA) and Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 have joined forces for 'Give Kids a Smile' day. On February 21, 2003, dentists across the country will provide free dental services, educational materials and oral health care products to underserved children. This joint effort by the ADA and Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 is the first time the ADA has partnered with a private company to improve dental access at the national level.
The ADA created 'Give Kids a Smile' as an annual vehicle to focus national attention on what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a "silent epidemic" of oral disease affecting children from low-income families and to build support for public and private solutions that will help these children get regular oral health care. As noted in the Surgeon General's 2000 report, Oral Health in America, dental decay is the most common disease affecting U.S. children, occurring at five times the rate of asthma and seven times that of hay fever. Millions of children suffer from untreated, easily preventable oral diseases that affect overall health, including speech, eating patterns and ability to concentrate in school.
'Give Kids a Smile' will organize dental teams around the country to provide a wide range of dental services and educational programs for underserved children, while highlighting for policy makers the ongoing challenges that low-income and disabled children face in accessing dental care. Events will range in scope and include programs such as in-school brushing demonstrations, large-scale community screening and treatment events and individual dentists providing free care to selected children in their private practices.
"In one sense, 'Give Kids a Smile' is nothing new?dentists routinely provide free and discounted care to people who otherwise couldn't afford it, and Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 is a prime example of that company's deep and longstanding commitment to improving access to oral health for people everywhere," said ADA President D. Gregory Chadwick, DDS. "What's different about this program is that in addition to helping a lot of kids, we're trying to effect real change in the state of oral health in America by calling attention to the extent of untreated dental disease and the need to improve access to dental care."
As the national co-sponsor of 'Give Kids a Smile,' Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 will donate Crest toothbrushes and paste, along with educational materials, for all participating dentists to distribute at 'Give Kids a Smile' events. In addition, through Crest's national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Clubs across the country will be encouraged to participate in 'Give Kids a Smile' events in their communities. The ADA and Crest hope that this national access day will be the first step in linking local community dentists with Boys & Girls Clubs to create ongoing relationships that will last well beyond National Children's Dental Health Month every February.
"Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 is a program that provides substantive, long-term solutions to the oral health crisis facing America's youth," says Diane Dietz, North American marketing director for Crest. "Through partnerships with dental thought leaders like the ADA, we will improve the oral health of underserved communities, helping create smiles that will last a lifetime."
The American Dental Association (ADA) is the nation's oldest national dental association, representing more than 140,000 members. It advocates for the public's health, and promotes the art and science of dentistry.
The Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 program was designed to help improve the state of oral health in America by providing education, oral care tools and increased access to dental professionals to underserved children and families across the country. Driven by the principle that oral health is integral to overall health, Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 will empower local communities with programs that will effect change in the oral health of children and families in need. In addition to 'Give Kids a Smile,' Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 reaches children in need throughout the year through its partnerships with dental and community leaders, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
To date, the Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 program includes the creation of full-service dental clinics in Boys & Girls Clubs, partnerships with dental schools for mobile dental clinics and a wide range of educational and dental access programs in communities around the country.
Dentists who wish to participate in 'Give Kids a Smile' Day can log onto www.ada.org for more information.
For more information on Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, call 1-877-289-6322 or log onto www.dentalcare.com.
