Free Dental Care Available To Eligible Kids

Registration is open for the next Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) free dental care clinic for kids. The event is set for Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education. The clinic is designed to meet the needs of toddlers and school-aged children through 8th grade, who are Medicaid-eligible, qualify for the free school lunch program or need dental assistance due to other circumstances. The organization has the capacity and resources to provide comprehensive dental services, completely free of charge, for up to 600 kids during this two-day clinic. Care is provided by appointment only on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, call Give Kids A Smile at 636-397-6453.

“Proper dental care plays a critical role in our oral—and overall—health and well-being,” said Erica Steen, executive director of Give Kids A Smile. “We understand hardships and unforeseen situations can interfere with one’s ability to get a child to the dentist, and we are here to help. We provide access to a wide range of dental services in a fun and caring environment, completely free of charge.”

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. GKAS works hard to create a non-intimidating, fun-filled environment for each young patient. Founding sponsor Delta Dental of Missouri donates funding for the event and helps create a festive atmosphere for children in the clinic, and after treatment in an entertainment area that features music, interactive games, face painters and balloon artists. Delta Dental of Missouri’s Tooth WizardSM and Tooth Fairy characters are on hand to entertain youngsters during both days of the event. Each child goes home with a free healthy lunch and smile bag that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss, as well as a book, courtesy of the St. Louis County Library Foundation.

Give Kids A Smile was launched in 2002 by a group of St. Louis dentists. The impact was so profound that the American Dental Association adopted the program in 2003 in an effort to help establish similar clinics in communities across the nation. To aid in this effort, St. Louis organizers host the GKAS Community Leadership Development Institute (GKAS Institute) as part of every October clinic. This enables organizers from other cities to witness the St. Louis clinic in action and learn best practices for expanding and enhancing clinics in their own communities. On Oct. 27 and 28, the GKAS Institute will welcome individuals from Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington.

To learn more about the work of Give Kids A Smile, to volunteer or to register for the upcoming clinic, call 636-397-6453, or visit www.givekidsasmile.org. The patient registration process includes the completion of health history and consent forms. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis.