Children’s Dental Day marks 10 years of smiles today

The 10th Annual Children’s Dental Day will be held at the College of Dentistry in Lincoln today.

Children’s Dental Day at the UNMC College of Dentistry in Lincoln has become the number one source of care for thousands of Nebraska’s children. Since the program began in 2001, the college has provided more than $2 million in dental care to 4,375 children

The 10th Annual Children’s Dental Day will be held today at the College of Dentistry in Lincoln. (Peggy Cain, UNMC College of Dentistry)

Many of the children who come to dental day have no other access to care, said John Reinhardt D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry.

“It’s estimated that about 25 percent of the children in Nebraska experience 80 percent of the dental disease reported in the state,” Dr. Reinhardt said.

The children participating in the event are identified and pre-screened in their communities by volunteers.

Today care will be provided to children from:

• Lincoln;
  
• Hastings;
  
• Crete;
  
• Lexington;
  
• Columbus;
  
• Norfolk;
  
• Madison;
  
• Wakefield;
  
• West Point; and
  
• Wisner.