Give Kids a Smile Celebrates 15th Anniversary at RSDM
PHOTO CREDIT: John Emerson
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine was home to the 15th anniversary kick-off last week of the ADA Foundation's Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program, which provides free oral health education, screening and preventive care to hundreds of thousands of children nationwide.
Nearly 400 children from Essex County grade schools received free examinations, cleanings, fluoride treatments and tips on brushing and flossing, thanks to more than 100 Rutgers student and faculty volunteers. The RSDM Galloway, Somerdale, and Northfield clinics, and Rutgers' School of Health Related Professions in Scotch Plains also participated in the GKAS program.
"Rutgers is honored to host the kick-off of Give Kids A Smile," said Dean Cecile A. Feldman. "Since it began 15 years ago, GKAS has been tremendously successful at raising public awareness of the importance of oral healthcare for children, especially those who ordinarily don't have access to dentists and whose families may lack knowledge of proper care. Dentists and dental students all over America have been reminded that we can make a difference in the lives of kids who aren't fortunate enough to get a check-up every six months. Because of GKAS, millions of smiles are brighter."
"This is a time to celebrate all that GKAS has accomplished. So many good things have occurred, but we realize there is still more to do in the years ahead," said Dr. William R. Calnon, President, ADA Foundation. "The passion obvious at Rutgers is what energizes the program. It is driven by people wanting to truly make a difference."
The event lived up to it's name, with many children grinning their way through check-ups. "My favorite part was when they brushed my teeth -- it tickled,'' said Fiorella, a third-grader at Forest Street School in Orange. "The dentists were all dressed up with cute dog face masks and tooth fairy costumes. I love to smile because the dentist keeps my teeth clean and healthy.''
"The dental students are really nice and helpful with teaching us new things,'' said Isabella, a fourth-grader at Gray Street Charter School. "Dentists protect us from having cavities and make your smile pretty.''
Rutgers' GKAS event also marked the introduction NJ HealthHome 2.0, which aims to strengthen the relationship between dentists and parents. “The mission of NJ HealthHome 2.0 is to eliminate dental caries and reduce chronic disease in all children by improving care coordination between health professionals and families,” explained Dr. Sid Whitman, chair of the New Jersey Oral Health Coalition. "The focus of the program is to help families find an 'oral health home,' where children can get regular oral healthcare.''
Broader public health goals for NJ Health 2.0 include eliminating dental caries and reducing chronic disease in all children from birth to age 5 and eliminating disparities in access. The effort is a partnership between RSDM, the NJ Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics ; NJ Dental Association, NJ Oral Health Coalition and Henry Schein Cares.
NJ HealthHome 2.0, which launches later this year, aims to become a national flagship program. Also praising the program at the RSDM event was Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during President George H. W. Bush's Administration. He is co-Chairman of the Henry Schein Cares Foundation.
“The key to prevention is improving health literacy so that people know the things they can do and the things they should do to prevent a number of conditions. Dental caries is a great example,” Dr. Sullivan said. He explained how regular brushing and fluoride can prevent dental caries, but other healthy behaviors, like exercising and good nutrition, can also improve oral health as well as overall health.
“Health literacy and healthy behavior will have a positive impact on our health,'' he said.
The Rutgers GKAS event was one of at least 1,300 Give Kids A Smile events scheduled to take place throughout 2017. Events range from those similar to Rutgers', which provide services to hundreds of children in a day, to individual dentists providing pro-bono oral health services and a dental home to one or several children under the Give Kids A Smile banner. Program sponsors included Henry Schein, Inc., which has served as the program's official products sponsor since its launch in 2003.
CareCredit, a provider of healthcare financing, the founding donor of the ADA Foundation's Give Kids A Smile Fund, donated money to help pay for clinical services on GKAS day.
The GKAS program originated in 2002 in St. Louis. The ADA launched it nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists to join with others in the community to provide free dental services to underserved children. Initially a one-day event in February, the program has since grown to include events of all descriptions, year-round. Give Kids A Smile is also the anchor event of the ADA's National Children's Dental Health Month.
Anudeep Grewal contributed to this report.
