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PR-01/29/2008: San Mateo County Dentists Give Kids a Smile

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2008 San Mateo County Health Department Contact: Beverly Thames, (650) 573-3935 San Mateo County Dentists Give Kids a Smile SAN MATEO, Calif. -- On February 1, 2008, approximately 200 children from local low-income families will receive free dental services, ranging from exams and cleanings to fillings and crowns, as part of national Give Kids a Smile Day. Children selected to participate in this year's event were referred by organizations such as Child Care Coordinating Council, North Peninsula Neighborhood Services, Children's Health Initiative, Ravenswood Family Health Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Samaritan House, and Family Resource Centers. Last year more than 53,000 dental team members nationwide participated in Give Kids a Smile Day, a program first held in 2003 by the American Dental Association (ADA) to provide care and raise awareness of the importance of dental care for low-income children. In San Mateo County, 23 dentists and staff provided dental exams and treatment to approximately 149 children from 1 to 18 years of age. The families also received assistance with health insurance enrollment. 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. Nearly 1 in 4 children, aged 2 to 11 years old have untreated cavities in their baby teeth, according to the CDC. Cavities are five times more common than asthma. Improving diet, brushing, and flossing can do a lot to prevent cavities, but other factors also are important. Routine checkups are important to identify problems early before they become serious and painful. The Dental Coalition of San Mateo County has worked on several outreach efforts, ranging from dental education at schools located in high need areas, to dental screenings, and referrals to the county's Children's Health Initiative for health and dental insurance enrollment assistance. The collaborative also supports local programs that provide dental care for pregnant women and children with special needs. 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. "Give Kids a Smile Day has two goals: to help children get the dental care they so desperately need and to raise awareness that our children deserve a better health care system that addresses their dental health needs. Dentists want to be part of the solution, but we can't solve the problem of access to care on our own. We need to raise awareness of the need to build public and private partnerships at the state and local levels to come up with common sense solutions to help our poor children," said Dr. Gracia Cua, vice president of San Mateo County Dental Society. "Dentists can't do this alone," Dr. Gracia Cua said. "With Give Kids a Smile, we can help some children get the dental care they need, but a one-day event will never have enough. Charity is not a health care system." For more information on Give Kids a Smile Day call (650) 573-2248 or for health insurance enrollment for children, please call Children's Health Initiative at (650) 573-3595. ###