Local dentists in Georgia are providing needed dental care to hundreds of children in the state as part of the Georgia Dental Association and its Foundation’s annual Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday, February 1. The volunteer initiative takes place each February in conjunction with Children’s Dental Health Month and provides dental screenings, treatment and education at no charge to underserved children.
“Although largely preventable, tooth decay remains the most prevalent chronic childhood disease,” says GDA Foundation for Oral Health Chair, Dr. Ben Jernigan Jr. “Education and prevention are key to ensuring good oral health from childhood into adulthood.”
Give Kids a Smile Day is one of the many programs hosted by the GDA Foundation for Oral Health to remove barriers to dental care and educate the public on the benefits of proper oral health. More than 100 Georgia Dental Association member dentists participate statewide, providing approximately $100,000 of donated care and services in just one day.
Part of a nationwide initiative, the Give Kids a Smile program was launched by the American Dental Association in 2003 as a way for dentists to join with others in the community to provide dental services to underserved children. Each year, about 350,000 to 400,000 children benefit from more than 1,500 events, all because of the efforts of 40,000 or more annual volunteers nationwide.
For more information about Give Kids a Smile day in Georgia, visit gadental.org/cdhm.