Dr. Edwards from Small Smiles of Atlanta Discusses Dental Care for Kids on Good Day Atlanta

Check out Dr. Amesha Edwards from Small Smiles of Atlanta discussing the importance of good oral health care for kids on Good Day Atlanta!

Getting Kids into Good Oral Hygiene: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Dr. Adair Speaks to Dentistry IQ About Serving the Underserved

Dr. Steve Adair recently spoke with Kevin Henry, editor of Dentistry IQ, about the importance of dental care for children -- and the role that parents play in ensuring their children have healthy smiles.

"In our clinics around the country, we daily see children come in with numerous cavities caused by diet, poor oral hygiene, lack of education about oral health, and more. All clinicians can do is try to keep up with the decay. If better care could be provided for the parents, I think it would turn the tide. Studies have shown that the children of mothers with untreated cavities are twice as likely to have untreated cavities. Mothers with regular dental care rated their health significantly higher than those who didn’t receive regular care. Another study has shown children are much more likely to visit the dentist if their parents visit the dentist regularly."

-- Dr. Steve Adair

Click here to read the article.

Children "Say Cheese!" in Youngstown, Ohio!

The Youngstown Vindicator recently ran an article entitled "Say Cheese!" The article shows how the caregivers at Small Smiles of Youngstown are helping to keep kids smiling in their community!

To read the article, please click here.

Children's Dental Clinic of Charleston Hosts Free Dental Screenings

Children's Dental Clinic of Charleston hosted free dental screenings for Low Country children. To hear how Dr. Trish and the caregivers at Children's Dental Clinic are helping keep Charleston's children smiling, watch the clip!

Small Smiles of Atlanta and Dr. Steve Adair Featured on Good Day Atlanta

To kick off National Children's Dental Health Month, Dr. Steve Adair appeared on Good Day Atlanta Xtra. Dr. Adair discussed the free screenings that were being held at Small Smiles of Atlanta and the importance of good dental health for children. To hear what Dr. Adair had to say, see the clip below!

Dentistry IQ: Recession affects dental care for youth from low-income families

In a new article featured in Dentistry IQ titled "Recession affects dental care for youth from low-income families", Dr. Steve Adair discusses the results of a recent survey which demonstrate that the recession is having a significant impact on dental care for many kids across the country.

The article states:

The national online poll surveyed 210 parents of young children in households with annual incomes of $35,000 or less. It revealed that one in five (20%) take their children to the dentist less than once a year, well below the American Dental Association’s recommendation of two annual check-ups. About 16% said their children are not insured, and more than 40% said their family receives government health assistance from programs, such as Medicaid and CHIP. Approximately 18% said they have trouble locating a dentist who will treat their children, a finding that reflects a national problem, Dr. Adair said.

“The numbers in the survey are not surprising given the overall challenge the nation faces with regard to dental care for low-income children,” [Dr. Adair] said. “The information reinforces what many of us suspected about the impact of the economy.

Adair goes on to say, "Through events such as health fairs and free dental screenings at schools and day care centers, Small Smiles helps spread the message about the need for establishing an oral health routine to their community,” he continued. “As a profession, we can do a better job educating parents and children of all socioeconomic levels about the importance of good oral health and their options for receiving the dental care that they need.”

To read the Dentistry IQ article, please click here.

To read more about the survey conducted, please click here.

Small Smiles of Greenville Sponsors Head Start Golf Tournament

On June 20th, Small Smiles of Greenville, SC sponsored and participated in SHARE's 2nd Annual Golf Tournament.

SHARE, the Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc., is a private non-profit organization that provides a wide range of services to low and moderate-income residents in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties. SHARE was chartered in 1966 and is headquartered in Greenville, SC. SHARE strives to help low-income individuals, families, and neighborhoods become self-sufficient.

Small Smiles of Greenville partners with SHARE to provide dental services to 90% of the pre-school children who SHARE assists.

In addition to sponsoring the tournament, teams from Small Smiles of Greenville also won 2nd and 3rd place!

Congratulations to the teams and to the dentists and staff in Greenville who are working with SHARE to teach children the importance of a dental routine at an early age.

Dr. Steve Adair Addresses Soda Mouth Crisis in USA Today Letter to the Editor

In a Letter to the Editor that appeared in USA Today on June 18, Dr. Steve Adair highlights the problems associated with soda consumption by children. Dr. Adair's letter, written in response to an article on a potential soda tax which is being considered by Congress and the Administration to help pay for health care reform, states:

"USA TODAY's coverage of a potential soda tax highlights the link between soda consumption and obesity, but there is another soda-driven health problem that is just as prevalent: tooth decay among children ("Pour on taxes, pour on change?," Life, Monday).

Tooth decay affects five times more children than asthma and is the most common chronic childhood disease; 80% of tooth decay among American kids is found in just 25% of all children, a majority of whom come from low-income families. Additionally, children with untreated tooth decay are more likely to have chronic pain and problems eating and sleeping.

This epidemic is driven in part by sugared soda consumption and other unhealthy habits children learn at home, but more needs to be done in communities as well. Nationwide, only about 30% of low-income children receive adequate dental care.

Whether a tax would reduce soda consumption is debatable, but what is certain is that parents and children need to be aware of the risks. Through education and expanded care access, we can help ensure that our nation's children grow up with healthy smiles."

To read the letter on USA Today's website, please click here.

Small Smiles of Holyoke Participates in Healthy Kids Day

Earlier this month, Small Smiles of Holyoke participated in the Healthy Kids Day at the Greater Holyoke YMCA.

The "Put Play In Your Day" event featured games and activities for children and their families. The event also featured short fitness demonstrations to help children and their parents live more active lifestyles.

Small Smiles of Holyoke was proud to be included in the event. Having a healthy smile plays an important role in a child's overall health. At the event, Small Smiles caregivers demonstrated the sugar content of popular beverages and explained how these beverages can have a negative impact on dental health.

Small Smiles Dental Center is committed to keeping the children of Holyoke healthy. To read more about the event, please click here.

Texas Smiles Hosts "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day"

Texas Smiles, recently hosted "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day" to commemorate National Children's Dental Health Month.

In this clip, lead dental assistant, Jennifer Gamboa, discusses the free screenings and how families can gain access to the dental care they need.

Tour a Small Smiles Dental Center and Meet Our Dentists

Welcome to Small Smiles!

Join us for a tour of our modern dental center designed with kids in mind. Dr. Toni Adderley, lead dentist at Small Smiles of Washington, D.C., takes you on a tour of our facility, while Dr. Steven Adair, Chief Dental Officer, explains the need for dental care in underserved populations.

To see the video, visit the Small Smiles homepage.