Organization Set to Provide Critical, and Potentially Life-Saving, Dental Care to 400+ Kids on Feb. 19 and 20. Registration is Underway Now through Feb. 10.
Most have suffered from a toothache. While the pain can be intense, a quick trip to the dentist is typically all that’s needed to take the pain away. But, for many families with limited financial resources and no insurance, trips to the dentist aren’t an option. As a result, untreated dental decay can become a major health concern. With Give Kids A Smile preparing to host its bi-annual clinic on Feb. 19 and 20, the organization is gearing up to provide more than 400 underserved kids with access to free dental care that has proven to have potentially life-saving results.
This was the case during the last Give Kids A Smile clinic held Oct. 23 and 24, 2015. A local -year-old boy named Dominque had been suffering from extreme mouth pain due to untreated dental decay that lead to an infection. His mother didn’t have insurance nor the money needed to pay for the needed care. In desperation, she took him to the ER at one of the local children’s hospitals, after he missed 10 straight days of school due to the pain.
The hospital provided Dominque with numbing medication and antibiotics but did not have the ability to treat the source of the infection, which had the potential to get into his blood stream and affect other parts of his body if not addressed quickly. A dentist was needed. Fortunately, the hospital staff was familiar with Give Kids A Smile, and was aware that the organization was holding a free clinic that very same day. Arrangements were made to get him to the clinic for immediate care. Volunteer dentists from Give Kids A Smile performed major dental work including multiple extractions and complex oral surgery. Later that day, Dominque went home pain free. And, all of the dental care services were provided completely free of charge.
“When left untreated, dental decay like Dominique had has the potential to become a life-threatening situation,” said Joan Allen, executive director of Give Kids A Smile. “This is why our bi-annual dental clinics are so critical. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. Unfortunately, the cost of dental care can fall outside the possible when budgets are tight and access to Medicaid providers in Missouri is limited. As a result, many low-income children are not receiving the treatment they so desperately need. Our goal is to provide local, underserved kids with access to quality dental care in a fun-filled, non-intimidating environment, and we are making great progress, one smile at a time.”
On Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20, hundreds of local dental professionals will gather again at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education to provide care to kids in need as part of the winter Give Kids A Smile clinic. Services will be provided completely free of charge for toddlers and school-aged children through 8th grade, who are Medicaid-eligible, qualify for a school lunch program or need dental assistance due to other circumstances. As with previous clinics, individuals will be seen by appointment only. Registration for the event is open now through Feb. 10 by calling Give Kids A Smile at 636-397-6453.
To date, Give Kids A Smile has provided $7.5 million worth of comprehensive dental care services completely free of charge to 14,360 local underserved children through the organization’s dental clinics held each February and October since 2002. Each child attending a clinic receives X-rays, professional cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, as well as fillings, root canals and oral surgery, as needed.
The event also features an entertainment area for children to enjoy after they receive services, which includes face painters, balloon artists, games, a visit from Delta Dental’s Tooth Wizard and the ability to interact with a Spanish-speaking Tooth Fairy who helps communicate to non-English speaking children.
To learn more about the work of Give Kids A Smile, or to register by Wednesday, Feb. 10, for the upcoming clinic, call 636-397-6453 or log on to www.gkas.org. The registration process includes the completion of health history and consent forms. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Give Kids A Smile was developed by Jeffrey Dalin, DDS; B. Ray Storm, DDS; Tom Flavin, DDS; Mark Ortinau, DDS and Jan Storm, RDHB, in February 2002 to provide children of families who cannot afford dental care with access to the benefits of dental services. GKAS is made possible thanks to major contributors including Delta Dental of Missouri and the Missouri Foundation for Health, which is a philanthropic organization whose vision is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves. Other supporters include William R. Orthwein, Jr. and Laura Rand Orthwein Foundation, Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education, Young Dental, Colgate-Palmolive Company, DEXIS, First Pacific Corporation, Greater St. Louis Dental Society, Henry Shein Dental, Keller Dental Laboratory and Patterson Dental.
For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris or Joan Allen
The Hauser Group Give Kids a Smile
314.436.9090 636.397.6453