Dental workers donate time to Give Kids A Smile
The Delaware State Dental Society sponsored its annual Give Kids A Smile event Feb. 11 at The Dental Group in Lewes.
More than 100 school-aged children received free dental care from society members along with the help of dozens of hygienists, dental assistants, office staff and dental supply companies from all over the state.
Dr. Joshua Bryan, dentist at The Dental Group and society president, said the goals of the project are not only to provide much-needed dental services, but to also raise awareness of the epidemic of untreated dental disease, and to create local public and private partnerships to increase access to oral healthcare to solve the crisis.
Starting early Feb. 11, The Dental Group offices were filled to overflowing with young patients and dental healthcare workers.
During the event, dental staff provided information, connected parents to existing services, and provided dental evaluations, X-rays, cleanings, restorations, extractions, root canal therapy and referrals for further care.
“If what we need to do can't be done today, we will make sure it gets done,” Bryan said.
Dr. Douglas Ditty of Dover, society access committee chair and organizer of the annual event, said this is the 20th anniversary of the event, with the initial effort taking place at The Dental Group.
Over the 20 years, thousands of children have received oral health screenings, and comprehensive preventive and restorative treatments totaling more than $1 million worth of donated care.
Representatives from Delaware Division of Public Health also participated in the event, meeting with families to connect them with services.
Gabrielle Hilliard, the division's public health treatment program administrator, said they planned to help families get dental insurance and connect them to providers. “Sometimes families struggle finding providers,” she said.
Bryan said children enrolled in Delaware Medicaid can receive free dental care through the age of 21. However, he added, many families are not aware of the program or don't know who to contact to get enrolled.
He said Delaware has one of the nation's highest percentages of dentist participation in the program. “Preventive and routine dental care is important to the health and development of children,” he said. “No child should have to deal with dental pain and infection.”
