Nearly 300 local children came to the Stony Brook University Dental Clinic on Friday, February 6, 2015 for the annual “Give Kids a Smile Day.” Now in its 13th year, the event offered free dental screenings, fluoride treatments and oral heath care education to children of Long Island. In addition, more than 60 children received sealants on their molars as a step toward better oral health. Give Kids a Smile Day” is sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA) each February as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month, serving more than 500,000 children each year. The one-day event is the centerpiece of a national campaign to provide dental care and promote the importance of oral health to children whose families might not otherwise have access.
The Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine provided the services through second- and third-year dental students, faculty, staff, pediatric residents, and dental assistant students, as well as hygiene students from SUNY Farmingdale and members of the Suffolk County Dental Society.
Stephanie Serrano ’16, a third-year dental student from Stony Brook, called it a “great rewarding experience to provide dental services to children in Suffolk County who have limited access to care. It was a day full of fun and laughter in the dental chair for all.”
All parents were given a detailed dental summary of the services provided and were encouraged to find dental insurance to continue with oral dental care for their children. In addition, the children were given a goody bag that included oral health education materials, a gift certificate for a free Happy Meal courtesy of McDonald’s, and free Family Pass for a day at the pool at fitness room at the Holiday Inn Express at Stony Brook.
– Joan Dickinson
Add comment