Local Dentists ‘Give Kids A Smile’

BY DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer

Though Give Kids A Smile Day officially was Feb. 2, Warsaw Family Dentistry participated in the event today.

Dr. Tina German and the staff of Warsaw Family Dentistry provided free dental services to 19 children.

Give Kids A Smile Day is a statewide effort in providing dental care to underprivileged children. Many local dentists, who are concerned about the growing number of children who are unable to access needed dental care, participated in the fifth annual Give Kids A Smile Day this year.

Give Kids A Smile seeks to raise awareness of a growing access-to-care problem and epidemic of untreated dental disease occurring in Indiana and across the country. In 2001, approximately 32 percent of children on Medicaid received dental services, and nearly half of children ages 2-9 suffer from tooth decay.

German says oral health is important to overall health. Untreated dental disease is painful and affects a child’s physical, emotional and social development. Children with untreated dental decay can’t eat or sleep properly, and this affects how well they perform at school.

Dental disease is preventable. Good oral hygiene, fluoride and sealants are inexpensive ways to prevent dental disease. Cavities are caused by a disease called caries, which is five times more common than asthma. Prevention costs much less than the dental treatment needed after caries is diagnosed.

According to information from the Indiana Dental Association, patients treated during Give Kids A Smile Day were 16 years old or younger, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, were on Medicaid, and currently don’t have a dental provider, or don’t have access to dental insurance.

The Indiana Dental Association has made access to dental care a top priority. In addition to Give Kids A Smile, many Indiana dentists are involved in Donated Dental Services, a program designed to provide care to elderly people with disabilities and medically compromised people with serious dental needs.

The IDA represents approximately 82 percent of all practicing dentists in Indiana.