BU offers free dental health fair for at-risk Boston children

BU offers free dental health fair for at-risk Boston children

(Boston) – Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) is offering a creative, new look at dental care to children at Rosie’s Place, the shelter for poor and homeless women, February 17 as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month.

BUGSDM DMD students will set up a dental fair inside Rosie’s Place, which children will tour with the use of “dental passports”. Children stop at each of six dental-themed stations, earning a sticker at each stop. The stations

include: brushing and flossing, the negative effects of tobacco on oral health, tooth protectors, the importance of regular dental visits, what teeth are used for, and the importance of eating healthy for good oral health. At the end of the tour awaits a goody bag full of prizes and, of course, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

The idea came to BUGSDM Oral Health Promotion Coordinator Kathy Lituri during a previous BUGSDM event at Rosie’s Place. She noticed a flyer demonstrating a need for children’s programs at the shelter and set out to come up with a way BUGSDM could help.

“The dental health fair is designed to be interactive and age appropriate for the children,” says Lituri. “It is such a great experience for both the dental students and the children that BUGSDM is planning to host four health fairs per year at Rosie’s Place, one per season.”

The event is just one of more than 30 programs through which BUGSDM provides free oral health care and education to the Massachusetts children and families annually.

The mission of Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine is to provide excellent education to dental professionals throughout their careers; to shape the future of dental medicine and dental education through research; to offer excellent health care services to the community; to participate in community activities; and to foster a respectful and supportive environment.

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