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January 29, 2010

Calhoun's Dental Assisting Program to Participate in National "Give Kids A Smile Day"

With dental disease among pre-schoolers on the rise, the American Dental Association (ADA) is mobilizing dental professionals in a national campaign to extend necessary care to children and adolescents from low-income families.

Calhoun Community College’s Dental Assisting program will be among the programs participating in ADA’s 2010 Give Kids A Smile® program on Friday, February 5, 2010, beginning at 8:30 am in the college’s Dental Assisting examination area on the second floor of the Health Sciences Center on the Decatur campus.   State Senator Arthur Orr and State Representative Mickey Hammon will be on hand to officially kick off the event.

Students and faculty from Calhoun’s Dental Assisting Program and several local dentists and dental hygienists will provide free examinations (including x-rays, cleaning, and fluoride treatments) to approximately 75 children through the local Head start program.  The Dental Assisting students will also provide information to the children on correct tooth brushing methods and other oral hygiene tips.

Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) is the ADA's major oral health outreach program, launched to encourage parents, health professionals and policymakers to address this important health issue. GKAS provides educational materials, screenings and, where possible, free dental care such as cleanings, X-rays and fillings.

“Our students and faculty are extremely excited about the opportunity to participate in this national event and more importantly to be able to provide free dental care to some very deserving local children,” said Karen Pasahow, Calhoun’s Dental Assisting program director.  “We are also fortunate to have the volunteer manpower of several area dentists and dental hygienists who are assisting us in this effort,” Pasahow added.

Give Kids A Smile events take place during February's National Children's Dental Health Month, through the volunteer efforts of dentists and dental team members and the generous support of corporate sponsors. The ADA continues to support legislation to improve access to oral health care, like the Children's Dental Health Improvement Act of 2007 and last year's "Deamonte's Law," a bill named for the child who died in Maryland. At home, the ADA urges parents to make sure their children brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, eat a balanced diet and see their dentist regularly to address tooth decay in its earliest stages.

Give Kids A Smile is an annual centerpiece to National Children's Dental Health Month and is observed every year on the first Friday in February, while NCDHM is celebrated during the entire month of February.

Visit Calhoun's Dental Assisting program website.

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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