Give Kids a Smile to be held on Feb. 10
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Dental Care will celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month by offering free examinations, appropriate X-rays, and fluoride treatments to children ages one to 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 in the WVU Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the WVU Health Sciences Center.
The appointments are part of the annual “Give Kids A Smile!” national dental access program of the American Dental Association and the West Virginia Dental Association. WVU dental and dental hygiene students will perform the care under the supervision of the faculty. Appointments are required, and space is limited. To schedule an appointment for the free exam, call 304-293-0401.
Oral health habits in early childhood can have a big impact on oral health in adult life, so it’s important to get kids to the dentist early in life. Give Kids A Smile helps to make that early dental care available to West Virginia’s kids.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children see a dentist after they get their first baby tooth and no later than their first birthday. An early visit enables a dentist to determine the child’s risk of cavities so that preventive action can be taken before the first cavity appears.
Michael Bagby, D.D.S., Ph.D., interim chair of WVU Pediatric Dentistry, likes to quote Dr. Seuss, “They are handy when you smile, so keep your teeth around a while!”
The clinic expects to see 15 children every 45 minutes for a total of 135 patients throughout the day. Participants in past years have ranged from existing patients to children who have never seen a dentist. Children of all needs and levels of care are welcome at the clinic.
For more information on the WVU Dental Care, visit www.wvumedicine.org/dental.