Make TBO Your Home Page| Subscribe To The Paper| Advertise With Us| Contact Us| Login| Edit Profile| Register
Suncoast Pasco News
Email
Print
Local Dentists Finish Annual Give Kids A Smile Event
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: March 4, 2009
Kids might disagree, but to be perfectly candid, the Tooth Fairy is overrated.
What else can you say about someone who is only interested in children's teeth after it's too late, and then only thinks they're worth small change?
The West Pasco Dental Association, on the other hand, is concerned about children's dental health, and it proved it once again by participating in the sixth annual Give Kids a Smile program.
In recognition of February, Children's Dental Health Month, the American Dental Association started Give Kids a Smile in 2004, aimed at providing dental care to children who might otherwise not be able to get it. Today, about 51,000 dental professionals provide free dental services to over half a million young patients at more than 2,000 locations nationwide.
Locally, the West Pasco Dental Association, Pasco-Hernando Dental Hygienists Association, and Pasco-Hernando Community College's dental hygiene program team up to treat about 100 patients annually at PHCC's New Port Richey-area campus.
On Friday, Drs. Steve Durrett, Joe Grimaudo, Paul Miller and Raj Grover, along with dental hygiene and dental assistant students, volunteer hygienists and support staff, were at PHCC West Campus, which has hosted the local Give a Kid a Smile campaign since its second year in existence.
"I approached Dr. Durrett and said you're welcome to use our clinic," said Deborah Nastelli, a program coordinator for PHCC's dental hygiene program.
Nastelli couldn't praise the program and the professionals who participate in it enough, and was proud of the school being a part of it, as well.
Give a Kid a Smile is aimed at children ages 5 to 17 who don't qualify for Medicaid but whose families cannot afford dental visits out-of-pocket, providing them with both preventative and restorative dental services.
"There's a lot of need out there, especially in Pasco County," Durrett said.
In past years, Give Kids a Smile has consisted of three steps, helped on consecutive Fridays when the participating dentists' own offices are closed or have short hours. First, there would be a day for pre-screenings. Then a week later, the children would come in for basic work.
"We provide all the children with an exam," Nastelli said. "They get X-rays; they get a cleaning. And they get oral hygiene instruction, and a fluoride treatment."
This is an important part of the program, Durrett said. Providing maintenance work and education can prevent children from needing more drastic work down the road.
The following week, children who need more involved follow-up work like extractions and fillings come back.
The program, Nastelli said, is a win-win experience for her students, getting real-world experience working with professionals. At the same time, they are performing a community service. In that regard, she pointed out, the professionals set a fine example, donating their time and much of the supplies needed. This year, the program was helped out with a $3,000 grant from the American Dental Hygienists' Association's Oral Health Institute.
The grant made it possible to extend this year's Give a Kid a Smile to include one more Friday of restorative work two weeks after the event was scheduled to be over.
"The doctors wanted very much to complete each child, to make sure they had no cavities when they were done," Nastelli said.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2009 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company. Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
