MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Dental Care will celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month by offering free examinations, screening X-rays if needed, and fluoride treatments to children ages one to 17 from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9 in the WVU Pediatric Dentistry Clinic.
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. Dental and dental hygiene students from the WVU School of Dentistry 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. Patients can begin calling to request appointments Jan. 29.
“It’s something we look forward to every year. WVU Pediatric Dentistry believes in prevention and education. This is a way we can provide an opportunity for our children and parents to participate in this national event. This is part of our outreach program for National Children’s Dental month,” Therese Bonasso, dental hygienist, said.
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.
The free exams provide more than $100 worth of services for children.
“We take X-rays when indicated. The exam can determine if there are or are not additional treatment needs for a patient,” Bonasso said. “Patients receive oral hygiene instructions and information on how diet choices impact oral health. It all comes back to our main goals, which are prevention and education.”
The clinic dentists and dental hygienists expect 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 School of Dentistry, visit http://dentistry.hsc.wvu.edu.