What is Give Kids A Smile®?
Give Kids A Smile® is a nationwide program sponsored by the ADA and locally implemented by members of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Dental Society. It is meant to accomplish two things, help children get the dental care they so desperately need and raise awareness that our children deserve a better health care system that addresses their dental health needs. The Give Kids A Smile® event provides free, desperately-needed dental service to local qualifying children from low-income families.
The History of Give Kids A Smile®
The Give Kids A Smile® name was first used by the Greater St. Louis Dental Society and a group of dentists who set up a temporary full-service clinic that treated nearly 400 children over two days in February 2002. Since then the program has grown enormously. In 2003, the American Dental Association adopted the GKAS concept and established a national clinic day each year in February where over a million children are cared for and over $100,000,000 in dental care is provided yearly.
The Importance of Give Kids A Smile®
Oral health is integral to overall health. Untreated dental disease is painful and affects a child’s physical, emotional and social development. Kids with untreated dental decay can’t eat or sleep properly; they can’t concentrate in school, not to mention how it affects them emotionally. Dental disease among kids from low-income families is epidemic. The National Institutes of Health report that 80 percent of tooth decay is found in just 25 percent of children, primarily from low-income families. And Nearly 1 in 4 children, aged 2 to 11 years, has untreated cavities in their baby teeth.
The Local Give Kids A Smile® Program
Since 2007 Drs. Shehee and Callahan have been coordinating the local Give Kids A Smile® program for the Escambia-Santa Rosa Dental Society. Give Kids A Smile® day is held at Pensacola State College Warrington Campus, where volunteer Dentists, Hygienists, Assistants and PSC Hygiene and Assisting students provide FREE dental care for children!
2010
•384 children received treatment.
•The grand total of dentistry services performed this one day was $136,547
•Over 200 volunteers donated their time
2009
•600 children received treatment
•The grand total of dentistry services performed this one day was $145,615
•215 volunteers donated their time
2008
•Over 300 children received treatment.
•The grand total of dentistry services performed this one day was $93,578.00.
•Over 140 volunteers donated their time during “Give Kids a Smile” day
Drs. Shehee and Callahan along with their staff would like to thank the following people:
•Linda Lambert, Dental Hygiene Program Director
•Teresa Lucas, Former Dental Assisting Program Director
•Nancy Lohr , Director of Marketing / ECAT
•McDonald’s and Buffalo Rock Pepsi for donation of food and drinks for volunteers
•The Dental Community participants and PSC Students