LSU Health NO Gives Kids a Smile

LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry and the New Orleans Dental Association (NODA) partnered to “give kids a smile” on Feb. 22. Students at Esperanza Charter School took part in the Give Kids a Smile Day event, held at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry.

When the children arrived, they were divided into groups, which rotated through stations. Activities included outdoor sports and activities to promote physical fitness; dental hygiene how-to’s, featuring brushing, flossing, and nutrition activities; and a photo booth. The Tooth Fairy, and her friends Tooth and Sparkle, taught life lessons on how to keep mouths healthy and smiles sparkling. NODA and LSU Health New Orleans dentists, dental and dental hygiene students, and dental residents screened and cleaned the children’s teeth, applying sealants where warranted. The groups rotated until all of the children had participated in all of the activities.   

The latest statistics reported by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry include:

-Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood and remains an epidemic among our nation’s children.

-Nearly one in five U.S. children under the age of five experienced dental cavities in 2015–2016.

-Children from low-income and minority families are particularly vulnerable to dental disease, as are children with special health- care needs.

-According to the ADA Foundation, the Give Kids A Smile program was launched nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists to join with others in the community to provide dental services to underserved children. Each year, 350,000 to 400,000 children benefit from more than 1,500 events, all because of the efforts of  volunteers, nationwide.”

 

03/05/2019