For hundreds of kids across the state, the annual Children’s Dental Day event at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year.
With its carnival like atmosphere, students clad in super-heroes of dentistry costumes and tooth fairies, Children’s Dental Day is more like a trip to an amusement park than to the dentist’s office.
Yet, more than 200 children from a dozen communities will receive more than $100,000 in care that includes – cleanings, extractions, fillings and root canals.
Since 2001, the College of Dentistry has treated more than 5,600 children and provided services valued at more than $3 million to low income and underserved children in the state.
This year children from Lexington, Columbus, Crete, Hastings, York, Fremont, Oakland/Craig, Omaha and Lincoln are expected to attend. Some of these children will be seeing a dentist for the first time.
The annual event also provides information on the importance of oral health through a variety of educational games and activities for the children, their parents and chaperones.
All of the children participating in the event are identified and pre-screened in their communities by volunteers, including school nurses, members of faith-based organizations, Head Start, dentists and dental hygienists.
These volunteers donate their time to identify needy children, provide oral health screenings that indicate the type of care the children will need when they come to the college, and in many cases, come with the children for emotional support and translation services.
“We are so pleased to help the children in Nebraska with their dental needs and I am extremely grateful to the faculty, staff and students for their roles in making this a positive experience for the kids. The care that is provided will likely infuse many more smiles into their communities,” said Janet Guthmiller, D.D.S., dean, UNMC College of Dentistry.
The dental and dental hygiene students will be joined by nursing students from the UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln division, who will provide well child checks, as well as learn how dental health affects a person’s overall health.
Dental hygiene students from Central Community College in Hastings and dental assisting students from Southeast Community College in Lincoln will be assisting with patient care, as well as physician assistant students from Union College who will assist with patient check-in and interact with dental and dental hygiene students.
"This event not only provides badly needed care for underserved children, but also strengthens the spirit of volunteerism and interprofessional education among our students, faculty, and staff," said David Brown, Ph.D., executive associate dean, UNMC College of Dentistry and the coordinator of the event.
We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Our mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Flickr