DES PLAINES, Illinois--February signaled ADA's National Children's Dental Health Month and the kickoff of the Give Kids A Smile program.
The goal of the program, now in its seventh year, is to provide free oral health education, screening, and treatment services to disadvantaged children in a series of events across the nation.
DEXIS and Henry Schein Dental, founding corporate sponsors, have participated in the care of children since the program's inception.
Originally held as a single event in one location, St. Louis, Mo., volunteers treated 400 children. Since then, the ADA reports that more than 4.2 million children have received treatment to improve their oral and general health under the GKAS banner.
Dental decay adversely affects children's health, causing millions of children to suffer with conditions that affect basic functions such as eating, speech, and ability to concentrate. For many children, treatment at GKAS events is their only access to dental care.
Already in 2009, program organizers have applauded the more than 12,400 dentists and more than 33,000 additional participants that make the program possible. More than 1,700 locations have brought smiles to 465,449 children. The totals will continue to grow.
This year, with the commitment and support of its supplier partners, Henry Schein Dental provided oral health-care screening and prevention kits to distribute to 150,000 children.
Colgate, a recent GKAS sponsor, donated oral health home care kits. DEXIS brought digital X-ray systems and personnel to dental school locations whose larger venues facilitate treatment for higher numbers of children.
With the growing number of those who need treatment, digital radiography provides instant images, resulting in faster diagnosis for each child, and the ability to treat more children in a shorter period of time.
DEXIS has also participated in other events that in the GKAS program, such as Mission of Mercy. The world's largest three-day on-going dental outreach event takes place annually in Wise, Va.
DEXIS also supports TeamSmile, a nonprofit organization that partners with major sports organizations helping volunteer dentists provide quality dental care to underserved populations.
"The lack of access to health care is critical for many in our country and DEXIS is committed to being a part of the solution," said Candy Ross, director of clinical affairs for DEXIS. "We are very proud, at the same time humbled, to share in this remarkable initiative. We find it extremely rewarding that digital imaging increases the success of these events--the more children are treated, the more lives are changed."
For more information about DEXIS imaging solutions, visit DEXIS.
To read more about DEXIS, go to DEXIS.
To comment on this topic, go to PennWell Dental Community site.
