Bradenton, FL — Nearly 25 percent of children under age 5 have cavities and many kids enrolled in Medicaid receive no dental services throughout the year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Give Kids A Smile will be held Saturday, March 4, LECOM Bradenton’s School of Dental Medicine, 4800 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. to provide free dental services to qualifying individuals and to raise awareness of the consequences of untreated dental disease.
Now in its third year at LECOM, the free services will include dental screenings and cleanings, X-rays and sealants, if needed, minor restorations (fillings) and simple extractions for children ages 2 to 18 accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Last year, LECOM dental students provided more than $70,000 worth of dental care to almost 200 pediatric patients, and the school hopes to serve more children this year. The event will be hosted by LECOM’s chapter of the American Student Dental Association, the student counterpart to the American Dental Association.
Please call for an appointment at the LECOM School of Dental Medicine at (941) 254-1698 or lecomgkas@gmail.com. Walk-ins will be treated on a first-come-first served basis.
The Give Kids A Smile program was launched nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists to provide dental services to underserved children. Each year, about 350,000 to 400,000 children benefit from more than 1,500 events, all because of the efforts of 40,000 or more volunteers nationwide.
For more information on the program, visit www.adafoundation.org/en/give-kids-a-smile.