The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, located
in Lincoln, will host Childrens Dental Day on Thursday, Nov. 14. The event
will provide 125 underserved children from Norfolk and Fremont free dental
care and education.
The event, held twice a year, is an opportunity for the college to help
underserved Nebraskans, as well as provide an opportunity for dental and
dental hygiene students to gain more clinical experience. Children from
low income, uninsured and homeless families, will receive dental exams,
cleaning, fluoride treatments, sealants, restorative work, and emergency
care as needed.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the college in Lincoln,
at 40th and Holdrege streets. Dental services will be donated by 200 UNMC
dental and dental hygiene students, 56 UNMC faculty and dental residents
and 40 staff. Other participants include the Hope Medical Outreach Coalition
and volunteers from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, dental
hygiene faculty and students from Central Community College in Hastings
and dental assisting students from Southeast Community College.
This event underscores the need in our at-risk population of children
in Nebraska, said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of
Dentistry. This care will address many of their oral health problems,
as well as teach them good dental hygiene for prevention of tooth decay.
Our students also receive an excellent clinical experience and learn about
the importance of giving back to the community.
Dental Day also will provide children with educational and entertainment
activities designed to teach the importance of good dental habits. Dental
characters and clowns will entertain children with games, including those
that teach good snacks versus bad, how soda pop affects their teeth and
what decay looks like.
Lunch, and snacks such as carrots, popcorn and apples, will be provided.
Children also will receive a bag of items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste,
floss, activity books and stickers. Interpreters also will be available.
Financial sponsors of Childrens Dental Day are: Ameritas Group Dental,
Nebraska Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Nebraska Dental Association.
Donors of dental and other supplies are DENTSPLY, Oral B, Proctor and Gamble
(Crest), Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., G.C. America, Inc., Ultradent,
Sara Lee Breads and Pastries, Pepsi-Cola Products, Fairbury Brand Meats,
Colby Ridge Popcorn, Hy-Vee Food Stores, Super Saver and Sun-Mart Foods.