The dental clinic at Lakeland Community College hosted its contribution to the American Dental Association’s 14th annual Give Kids a Smile event Feb. 2.
According to organizers, about 100 3-5-year-olds who might otherwise not have access to routine, or even initial, dental care, who are enrolled in the Lake-Geauga Head Start program got checkups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, a healthy snack and some dental education, thanks to a program started more than a dozen years ago by the American Dental Association.
The program, which is a national campaign headed by the ADA, is administered locally by the Northeast Ohio Dental Society and seeks to provide dental checkups for preschool-age children whose families face difficulties getting them on their own.
Kim Gardner, who is vice president of the Northeast Ohio Dental Society and runs his practice, Dr. Kim Gardner, DDS, out of Chardon, said the day began out of state by a group of dentists who wanted to call attention to the fact that February is the ADA’s National Children’s Dental Health Month.
“A group of dentists in another state started this program 14 years ago to point out the importance of dental care for children,” Gardner said. “Then the ADA kind of took over and now it’s on the first Friday of February each year.”
He said it’s “just a way to give back to the community and be able to help kids get a good start on their dental health.”
He said the same group of area dentists have been participating at the Lakeland event all 14 years.
Lisa Richards, of Dental Specialists of Lake County in Mentor, has been one of the driving forces behind the event at Lakeland and said she and the group of volunteers can’t thank the school enough for hosting it.
“I’d really like to thank Lakeland for donating their facility, because we couldn’t do this without it and they’ve been doing this for 14 years,” she said, adding that Henry Schein Dental and Colgate also contribute to the program at Lakeland which, for many of its young benefactors, is the first dental-health consultation experience they’ve ever had.
“The kids like it,” Richards said. “They get to come here on the Head Start busses. They’re greeted by the volunteers and dental hygiene students, go to a puppet show, make a craft, have a healthy snack and, when they get their examinations and have their teeth cleaned, they’re treated by kind, compassionate volunteers who talk to them and make them feel comfortable so the can have a positive dental experience.”
The event is serviced by a number of area dentists who volunteer their time, along with hygienists and students in Lakeland’s program, who are fulfilling a portion of their course requirements by participating.
Robin Benver, a hygienist at Richards’ practice, said she enjoys participating because it genuinely helps these kids.
“(I do it) to help the community,” she said. “Some of these children don’t get any dental care at all and we’re here to fulfill that need.”
She said there’s about a 50/50 split between those who are nervous and those who are excited to be there.
“It probably depends on whether they’ve ever been to a dentist before,” she said.
Robin Griffith, Benver’s coworker at Dental Specialists of Lake County, said some of the children who come to the event really do need the help.
“I just saw a little girl who had never been to a dentist and she had several areas of decay,” Griffith said, adding that it feels good to be able to help a young person in a situation like that. “I would say it’s fulfilling to know that we’re helping someone who would otherwise not get dental care.”
Richards said children who do need dental attention beyond the scope of what Give Kids a Smile offers are referred to the practices of dentists who then perform needed procedures either for free or at a significantly reduced cost.
Lake-Geauga Head Start family and community relationship coordinator Heather Eubank said it means a great deal to the children who participate.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” she said. “A lot of them wouldn’t see the dentist without this. And we treat it like a field trip, so they’re excited about it. There are craft activities and a puppet show...”
She added that their families are appreciative of the event, as well.
“The parents are all very thankful, too,” she said. “It takes a little bit of the burden off of them. Maybe they can’t get their children to a dentist for whatever reason: transportation, financial constraints, insurance reasons.”
Lake-Geauga Head Start health coordinator Colleen Weaver added that, for some families, multiple children have taken advantage of the opportunity and it’s proven useful for the older siblings
“We have parents that have had kids do it previously, so the older siblings could attest to the value of it and put their younger siblings at ease about it, as well,” she said.
For Lakeland’s part, the school is just happy to be able to help.
“The Lakeland Dental Hygiene program enjoys being able to serve as our local Give Kids a Smile site,” said Jennifer Barr, the school’s dental hygiene director. “As always, it is really something special to see our students, alumni, faculty, and area dentists working together to provide care for children in need. We are already looking forward to next year’s event in our newly renovated clinic.”
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