SBU SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE TO PROVIDE FREE DENTAL CARE AND EDUCATION AT “GIVE KIDS A SMILE”

ADA Designates February as National Children’s Dental Health Month

Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine faculty, staff, and students will provide oral health education and dental care to hundreds of children at the 2010 “Give Kids a Smile” Day.

STONY BROOK, N.Y., January 28, 2010 – On February 5, 2010, the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook University will provide free dental screening, exams and cleanings to hundreds of children at “Give Kids a Smile” Day. The event is the centerpiece of the American Dental Association (ADA) National Children’s Dental Health Month. All services will be provided at the Dental Care Center, located on the West Campus of Stony Brook University, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Appointments can be made by calling the Dental Care Center at 631-632-8889. Walk-ins may also be accepted.

Sponsored by the ADA, Give Kids a Smile is a one day event and part of a national campaign to provide dental care and promote the importance of oral health to children who might not have ready access due to their economic status. Many families on Long Island do not have adequate dental insurance or the means to provide for proper preventive care for their children. Give Kids a Smile is designed to provide education, preventive and restorative care to low-income children around the nation who do not have access to care.

“Stony Brook’s annual participation in Give Kids a Smile has helped thousands of families in our area receive important information about preserving oral health and preventing disease, as well as receiving the cleanings, fluoride treatment, fillings and sealants many of the children need,” says Maria Emanuel Ryan, D.D.S., Ph.D., Professor of Oral Biology and Pathology, and Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and External Affairs at the School of Dental Medicine.

Since the ADA began Give Kids a Smile in 2002, the program has grown every year. Close to 500,000 children are treated each year at more than 1,500 locations across the nation. The School of Dental Medicine at SBU has participated in the program since its inception.

In addition to dental screening and treatment, SBU School of Dental Medicine students, residents, faculty, staff and dental health professionals from the Suffolk County Dental Society, will provide oral health education to children and their families. The School serves as the coordinating center for other sites in Suffolk County participating in the day, such as St. Charles Hospital Dental Clinic in Port Jefferson and the Department of Dental Hygiene at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale.

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