Registration Underway for Upcoming Give Kids A Smile Clinic

The Give Kids A Smile organization today announced that patient registration continues for its next free dental care clinic, set for Friday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27, at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education. The event is designed to meet the dental health needs of toddlers and school-aged children through 14 years old (through the 8th grade), who are Medicaid-eligible, qualify for the free school lunch program or need dental assistance due to other special circumstances. The organization has the capacity and resources to provide comprehensive dental services, completely free of charge, for up to 600 kids. Care is provided by appointment only on a first-come, first-served basis. Patient registration can be completed through Friday, Oct. 19, by calling Give Kids A Smile at 636-397-6453.

Children registered to attend the upcoming clinic will receive X-rays, professional cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, as well as fillings, root canals and oral surgery, as needed. Give Kids A Smile works hard to create a non-intimidating, fun-filled environment for each young patient that includes an entertainment area featuring music, interactive games, face painters and balloon artists. Each child goes home with a free healthy lunch and smile bag that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and more.

“Oral health issues are preventable yet remain one of the most common chronic childhood diseases,” said Erica Steen, executive director of Give Kids A Smile. “So much is dependent on sticking to a dental health routine of regularly brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist. Unfortunately, there are countless kids, right here in St. Louis, who don’t own their own toothbrush and rarely, if ever, see a dentist. Some families are facing temporary hardships, like job loss, and simple cannot afford it at the present time. Regardless of the reasoning, we are here to help. We have 250 local dental professionals and community volunteers coming together over a two-day period to address the local need. An impact will be made, change will occur – one sweet smile at a time. The key is making sure people know this resource exists.”

Give Kids A Smile’s clinics are held each February and October and have succeeded at providing over 16,000 local underserved children with $9.1 million worth of free, comprehensive dental care since 2002. These events are made possible thanks to founding sponsor Delta Dental of Missouri and other contributors, including the Dana Brown Charitable Trust, American Direct Marketing Resources, LLC, William R. Orthwein Jr. and Laura Rand Orthwein Foundation, St. Louis Cardinals Care, Greater St. Louis Dental Society and Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education.

To register a child for the upcoming clinic, call 636-397-6453. The patient registration process includes the completion of health history and consent forms. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who may need assistance coordinating transportation to or from the clinic are encouraged to reach out early. To learn more about Give Kids A Smile, visit www.GiveKidsASmile.org.

Give Kids A Smile was developed by Jeffrey Dalin, DDS; B. Ray Storm, DDS; Tom Flavin, DDS; Mark Ortinau, DDS and Jan Storm, RDHB, in February 2002 to provide children of families who cannot afford dental care with access to quality care. The impact was so profound that the American Dental Association adopted the program in 2003 and has served as the catalyst for a nationwide program by the same name that has provided care to 5.5 million kids.