The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, located
in Lincoln, recently received the 2003 Community Preventive Dentistry Meritorious
Award from the American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation. Awarded through
the ADAs Council on Assess, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations,
the college is being recognized for Childrens Dental Day, an event that
provides free oral health care and education to underserved Nebraska children.
The ADA presented the college with a $500 stipend and plaque.
Childrens Dental Day, which has been held four times to date, began
in 2001. During the one-day event, dental and hygiene students and faculty
provide care for about 130 children and donate about $50,000 in dental
services.
The event provides an opportunity to help underserved Nebraska children.
Children from low income, uninsured and homeless families receive cleaning,
fluoride treatments, sealants, cavity fillings, education and emergency
care as needed.
I think the most important message our students get from Dental Day
is that there are many needy children in Nebraska who have serious dental
problems and can’t find a dentist to take care of them, said John Reinhardt,
D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. This problem exists throughout
our country, but sometimes we aren’t aware of it because most of the children
who come to our clinic regularly have a much higher level of oral health.
The take-home message for our students it that throughout your dental
career, you should find a way to give back to the less fortunate. Dental
and dental hygiene education is a gift that should be shared. Children
in the U.S. should not have to endure dental pain and disfigurement which
can prevent them from having a chance to succeed in life.
One of the organizers of the event, David Brown, Ph.D., UNMC College
of Dentistry professor of oral biology and executive associate dean, said
the College of Dentistry takes its community partnership role seriously.
We also recognized that we share this award with many donors who provide
financial as well as in-kind support to provide services to underserved
children who have little or no access to care. The event also is a good
experience for students and faculty in terms of unique patient care experiences
and valuable opportunities for learning and interacting with people from
all cultures.
The event also provides interactive, fun educational activities designed
to teach the importance of good dental habits. Dental characters and clowns
entertain children with games, including those that teach good snacks versus
bad, how soda pop affects their teeth and what decay looks like. Children
also receive lunch, healthy snacks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, activity
books and stickers. Interpreters also provide translation services.
Dental services will be donated by almost 350 UNMC dental and dental
hygiene students, faculty, residents and staff. Other volunteers include
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.
Financial sponsors from the most recent event include: 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., Nebraska Department of Education Headstart program, Ultradent, Sara
Lee Breads and Pastries, Pepsi-Cola Products, Fairbury Brand Meats, Colby
Ridge Popcorn, Hy-Vee Food Stores, Super Saver, Russs Supermarkets, Arrow
Stage Lines and Sun-Mart Foods.
The ADA is the professional association of dentists committed to the
public’s oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement, leading
a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research
and the development of standards. It has more than 147,000 members and
is the largest and oldest national dental association in the world.