To improve oral health among underserved children, the American Dental Association (ADA) and Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc., have joined forces for Give Kids a Smile Day. On Feb. 21, 2003, thousands of dentists across the country will provide free oral health services to underserved children.
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.
"Dentists can be proud that they routinely provide free and discounted care to people who otherwise couldn't afford it," said ADA President T. Howard Jones, DMD. "But with Give Kids a Smile, in addition to helping a lot of kids, we're letting policymakers know that too many children are not getting the oral health care they need."
As a national co-sponsor of Give Kids a Smile, Ivoclar Vivadent will donate substantial amounts of preventive and restorative dental supplies to dentists participating in Give Kids a Smile events. "Ivoclar Vivadent is proud to be supporting the American Dental Association and the thousands of dental professionals who will be participating in the Give Kids a Smile Campaign," said Robert A. Ganley, president of Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc. "This initiative will bring many smiles to less fortunate children and their families."
Individuals who wish to participate in Give Kids a Smile can visit www.ada.org for more information.
