Record turnout at events promoting dental care for kids in underserved communities

More than 300 volunteers provided dental care to over 1,500 youngsters at Nassau County Dental Society in Uniondale last month.

The kindergarten through second grade students from 15 participating schools received the dental care as part of a campaign to promote vital access to oral health care for thousands of children in underserved communities across New York.

The annual “Give Kids A Smile” events are free, offered in partnership with the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) as part of Children’s Dental Health Month. Each event provides oral hygiene and nutrition education to children and features onsite clinical exams with screenings, preventive and restorative treatments, with additional services available for children who display acute dental issues.

“Give Kids A Smile events are important not only because of their wide-ranging impact, but because of the care and habits our members impart on the children who need it the most in underserved communities across our state,” said Prabha Krishnan, DDS, president of NYSDA. “These events are critical to closing the gap in access to care and securing dental homes for children and their families. Teaching good oral health habits early and educating on the importance of preventive and routine care are essential to overall health.”

The next local Give Kids A Smile event will take place Saturday, April 26 at Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead.

For more information on NYSDA, please visit NYSDental.org.