Putting Happy, Healthy Smiles
of Kansas City's Disadvantaged Children
Tooth decay is the single-most common,
chronic disease among children in the United States. Untreated
tooth decay can cause a child to experience pain, loss of
appetite, mental distraction, tooth loss, a disfigured smile,
speech pathology, emotional distress, academic problems and
behavioral issues. Techniques for the prevention and treatment
of tooth decay have been available in the United States for
over 50 years. Medicaid, the federal-state health "safety
net" for the poor, guarantees that all children will
have access to high quality oral health care. Yet among
those children who qualify for Medicaid, fewer than 20 percent
actually receive care.
Kansas City, as in much of the nation, access to oral health
care for disadvantaged children and their families remains
an unfulfilled promise. Medicaid reimbursement is too low
to attract an adequate number of private practitioners to
meet the demand for services. Nonprofit and public health
clinics struggle to make up the shortfall; yet, the need for
services continues to grow.
Partnership for Success
Partnership for Smiles was established with the mission to fully meet the oral health
needs of disadvantaged children and families in greater Kansas
City. Fifty-five percent of children in Missouri who qualify
for Medicaid do not receive adequate oral health care. Because
of Partnership for Smiles more of these children and
families in the Kansas City area are able to receive the care
they desperately need. The success of the program is accomplished
through the hard work and commitment generated by the partnership
between the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry
and these community health centers:
City Free Health Center
Family and Health Services
Parkway Health Center
School of Dentistry faculty and students rotate through the
centers to perform preventive and restorative treatments as
well as prophylactic cleanings. They have treated over 6,000
disadvantaged patients who otherwise might not have received
any care at all
Over the next five years Partnership
for Smiles has resolved to increase its level of service
so that it can deliver care to 12,000 patients per year. To
accomplish this ambitious increase in service, Partnership
for Smiles must accomplish a substantial increase in its
sources and amounts of financial support. Your financial support
of Partnership for Smiles will expand the number of
dentists and hygienists delivering care in the community health
centers. You'll also help establish treatment programs for
the children and families in desperate need of our assistance.
The individuals and organizations who invest in Partnership
for Smiles will help guarantee that more children and
families in greater Kansas City can enjoy healthy, happy smiles.
for Partnership for Smiles
"Partnership for Smiles has been
invaluable to Seton Center Family & Health Services. This
program has provided us the opportunity to server more people
who need dental care. The quality of dentists is excellent."
--Rachel Asaro, Executive Director of Seton Center
Family & Health Services
Health Foundations is pleased to be part of the UMKC School
of Dentistry's Partnership for Smiles. Poor or non-existent
dental care keeps many low-income youngsters from succeeding
in school--no one can pay attention when their teeth ache.
We are grateful that the School of Dentistry took a leadership
role in trying to ameliorate this problem."
--Joan Biblo, Executive Director of Prime Health Foundation
for Smiles is a classic example of how a number of organizations
can work together to better serve persons in need."
--David Ross, Senior Vice President of Bank of America
The Partnership for Smiles is supported with grants from the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and eight local funding partners.
Curry and Company
& Effie Speas Foundation, Bank of America
Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
more information, please contact:
Office of Alumni and Development
UMKC School of Dentistry
650 E. 25th St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 235-2173 or (800) 887-4477
Fax (816) 235-5892