Release Date: February 2, 2018
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine is delivering more than healthy smiles this February.
For its annual Give Kids A Smile Day – a national program dedicated to raising awareness about the prevalence of untreated dental disease and teaching children good dental health habits – the School of Dental Medicine will expand its services beyond oral health care to include free services from nurses, dieticians, social workers and audiologists.
Throughout the day, children will receive oral health exams, cleanings and fluoride treatments, and if needed, x-rays, fillings or extractions. While they wait, kids can enjoy hands-on activities, games, dental videos and oral health instruction from Buffalo Sabres mascot Sabretooth.
Through new partnerships, the program will also offer screenings for hearing loss, guidance on healthy eating, and assistance in determining Medicaid eligibility and in finding a permanent dental home. Nurse practitioners will be available to answer general health questions and dieticians will provide demonstrations on how to prepare healthy school lunches.
When: Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 3435 Main St. in Squire Hall on the UB South Campus. For a map of the campus (Squire Hall is No. 19), visit: http://bit.ly/2jDpqkH.
Media are invited to attend. On-site contact is Edward Morrison, email@example.com or 716-955-0393.
Why: Give Kids A Smile Day is held each February in celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month. The event provides needed care to children who may be uninsured or underinsured. Since its inception, the program has treated nearly 10,000 children.
With a new focus on overall health, the 17th Give Kids A Smile Day will provide more than 250 Western New York schoolchildren with free health screenings and dental treatment, including orthodontic assessments.
The program is supported by hundreds of volunteers, including UB dental school faculty, staff and students, as well as private dentists and their staff who donate their time to provide care.
The event is held in partnership with the American Dental Association, New York State Dental Association and the 8th District Dental Society. The program's sponsor is Fidelis Care, a health plan that provides quality, affordable health insurance to more than 1.6 million New York State residents.
New services will be provided through an interprofessional collaboration with UB’s School of Nursing, School of Public Health and Health Professions, and Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences.