On "Give Kids A Smile Day," Small Smiles partnered with other local providers to provide free screening and treatment to 200 kids from low-income communities in the Youngstown area. The full story, covered by The Youngstown Vindicator:
For a high percentage of the youths, it was the first time sitting in a dentist’s chair.
Feb. 7, YOUNGSTOWN, OH — Local dentists and dental hygienists provided some 200 under-served area schoolchildren, from preschool through the eighth grade, with dental examinations and treatment this week.
The program, Give Kids A Smile!, is under the auspices of the American Dental Association, and locally through the Corydon Palmer Dental Society.
Kids were bused all week to the Choffin Career & Technical Center’s dental assisting program; and to Youngstown State University’s dental hygiene program and Small Smiles Dental Clinic on Friday, which was National Give Kids A Smile! day.
For a high percentage of the kids, it was the first time sitting in a dentist’s chair, said Paula Oliver, program director for the Choffin dental assisting program. While Choffin is part of Youngstown schools, the dental assisting program is an adult education program, one of just three in Ohio that is accredited, Oliver said.
The children also received free tooth brushes and dental floss and made teeth identification imprints that were given to their schools, she said.
Children this young shouldn’t have cavities, with flouride in the water, said Dr. Steven Watts, who another volunteer dentist, Dr. Paul Bertolasio, said is the push behind the local program.
Watts’ private practice is in Howland, and Bertolasio’s in Girard.
From a treatment perspective, the children receive examinations, teeth cleaning, sealant to prevent cavities, and even fillings when necessary. There is also an education component, Oliver said.
The problem is, said Dr. Watts, that children are drinking too much bottled water, most of which does not contain flouride, and too much pop, especially dark colas, which contain phosphoric acid, which he said is hard on teeth.
The damage from phosphoric acid can be lessened by using a straw, which keeps less of the acid from touching the teeth, he said.
“I like to help kids,” said Dr. Bertolasio, who said he also does free work for first- and fifth-graders at Girard City Schools and St. Rose School in Girard, and talks to kids about dental care in the Giant Eagle Eagles Nests while their parents are shopping.
Also helping Friday were students of the Choffin nine-month dental assisting program, such as Julie Mohorick of Warren and Ashley Altomare of Leetonia.
There is a special component of the program this year, in which 10 to 20 families will be picked based on the children with the highest number of cavities, to all receive free dental examinations, teeth cleaning and dental care education, Oliver said.
“We’ll follow the families for a year and do any restorative work they need,” Dr. Watts said.
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