The President this week signed new legislation that will cover an additional 4 million kids under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), bringing to a total of 11 million the number of uninsured children eligible for coverage.
The measure includes a requirement that states cover dental care under SCHIP, and allows states to provide dental coverage as a supplement to private insurance.
This is a huge step in the right direction for the millions of low-income children who experience a disproportionate share of tooth decay and dental disease in America. Small Smiles dental centers are among the few dental providers that are specifically focused on providing care for SCHIP and Medicaid children. In fact, fewer than 1 in 4 dentists nationwide will treat children on Medicaid.
For a summary of the SCHIP bill that was signed into law this week, see the Kaiser Foundation report about the great news for America's kids.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Small Smiles Caregivers Volunteer for Spartanburg Kids
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal covered the great work of Small Smiles dentist Dr. Lenora Covington, who volunteered alongside other caregivers for a day of free care for underserved kids in Spartanburg:
Dentists volunteer time for 'Give Kids a Smile Day'
Dentists give exams, treat needy
By Dudley Brown
Feb. 7, 2009
Shelby-Ryan Scott left the dentist's chair with a big sticker and a little pink treasure box for storing the baby tooth that she lost.
She smiled as she hugged her mother and made a declaration.
"I ain't scared of no dentist," said Shelby-Ryan, 7.
She was one of 56 children participating in Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg's Give Kids a Smile Day. She left with the attitude that the free dental clinic would like kids to have.
Healthy Smiles treats children and teens who aren't eligible for Medicaid. It has weekly clinics on Fridays and Saturdays at Spartanburg Community College. Give Kids a Smile Day is an opportunity to bring a group of dentists together to volunteer their services. It's a partnership with the Spartanburg County Dental Association and Spartanburg Community College.
Seven dentists volunteered Friday, including Dr. Lenora Covington of Small Smiles, a dental clinic that treats children eligible for Medicaid.
"We're letting the community know we're there for them," Covington said. "There are a lot of children that fall through the cracks who don't qualify for Medicaid."
Dr. Jack Keith, a retired orthopedic surgeon, started Healthy Smiles, which began serving children two years ago. Keith said a study was conducted five years ago that found almost 10,000 children in the county needed dental care.
"We don't have any idea of what it is now, but I don't think it's decreased any," Keith said.
Some of the children treated Friday were visiting a dentist for the first time. Keith said dentists spend a minimum of 30 minutes with each child and that they take time to treat and look for any problems because it could be awhile before a child sees a dentist again.
Dr. David Dedmon said the first child he saw Friday received treatment that would normally cost $1,000. He and other dentists noted some of the problems they treated so they could share the information with county, state and national dental associations.
Last year, the clinic served 425 children. This year's goal is to treat 700.
"It's the most common reason for a child to miss school - an achy tooth or an abscessed tooth," Keith said.
Children are referred to Healthy Smiles through schools. Small busloads of children are brought to the clinic on Fridays. Keith said the kids receive dental services and are taught good oral hygiene.
Dentists volunteer their services, and occasionally, the clinic pays to have children treated.
Cindy Roddey, executive director of Healthy Smiles, said four dentists regularly volunteer with the program.
"If we could have every dentist in the county giving us five hours a year, we could triple the number of children we see," Roddey said.
Dentists volunteer time for 'Give Kids a Smile Day'
Dentists give exams, treat needy
By Dudley Brown
Feb. 7, 2009
Shelby-Ryan Scott left the dentist's chair with a big sticker and a little pink treasure box for storing the baby tooth that she lost.
She smiled as she hugged her mother and made a declaration.
"I ain't scared of no dentist," said Shelby-Ryan, 7.
She was one of 56 children participating in Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg's Give Kids a Smile Day. She left with the attitude that the free dental clinic would like kids to have.
Healthy Smiles treats children and teens who aren't eligible for Medicaid. It has weekly clinics on Fridays and Saturdays at Spartanburg Community College. Give Kids a Smile Day is an opportunity to bring a group of dentists together to volunteer their services. It's a partnership with the Spartanburg County Dental Association and Spartanburg Community College.
Seven dentists volunteered Friday, including Dr. Lenora Covington of Small Smiles, a dental clinic that treats children eligible for Medicaid.
"We're letting the community know we're there for them," Covington said. "There are a lot of children that fall through the cracks who don't qualify for Medicaid."
Dr. Jack Keith, a retired orthopedic surgeon, started Healthy Smiles, which began serving children two years ago. Keith said a study was conducted five years ago that found almost 10,000 children in the county needed dental care.
"We don't have any idea of what it is now, but I don't think it's decreased any," Keith said.
Some of the children treated Friday were visiting a dentist for the first time. Keith said dentists spend a minimum of 30 minutes with each child and that they take time to treat and look for any problems because it could be awhile before a child sees a dentist again.
Dr. David Dedmon said the first child he saw Friday received treatment that would normally cost $1,000. He and other dentists noted some of the problems they treated so they could share the information with county, state and national dental associations.
Last year, the clinic served 425 children. This year's goal is to treat 700.
"It's the most common reason for a child to miss school - an achy tooth or an abscessed tooth," Keith said.
Children are referred to Healthy Smiles through schools. Small busloads of children are brought to the clinic on Fridays. Keith said the kids receive dental services and are taught good oral hygiene.
Dentists volunteer their services, and occasionally, the clinic pays to have children treated.
Cindy Roddey, executive director of Healthy Smiles, said four dentists regularly volunteer with the program.
"If we could have every dentist in the county giving us five hours a year, we could triple the number of children we see," Roddey said.
Local Dentists Give Youngstown Kids a Reason to Smile
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.
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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