Kids Learn How to Take Care of Their Smiles at Give Kids a Smile Event
KIDS LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SMILES AT ‘GIVE KIDS A SMILE’ EVENTMouthPower program teaches children lifelong oral health habits BALTIMORE, MD (January 28, 2009)—The National Museum of Dentistry will host a Give Kids A Smile event on February
KIDS LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SMILES AT ‘GIVE KIDS A SMILE’ EVENT
MouthPower program teaches children lifelong oral health habits
BALTIMORE, MD (January 28, 2009)—The National Museum of Dentistry will host a Give Kids A Smile event on February 6 that features free dental screenings and a unique opportunity for children to learn how to take care of their teeth in the Museum’s hand-on MouthPower exhibition.
More than 100 students from George Washington Elementary School and Diggs Johnson Middle School in Baltimore City will receive free dental screenings to identify dental disease and a fluoride sealant to help prevent cavities. They will take home a report suggesting follow up, along with recommendations on where to seek treatment.
The children will also discover how to have a healthy mouth for life through the Museum’s signature MouthPower oral health education program, a hands-on exploration of how to brush and floss, how to eat healthy, and how to avoid the dangers of tobacco. This program also has a national reach through its online version at www.MouthPower.org and an interactive traveling exhibition that is currently touring children’s museums across the country.
“Through Give Kids A Smile, we are excited to teach children lifelong habits that will impact their oral health for a lifetime,” said National Museum of Dentistry Executive Director Rosemary Fetter.
The Give Kids A Smile event in Baltimore is made possible by a partnership between the National Museum of Dentistry, the University of Maryland Dental School, and the Maryland State Dental Association. The event is organized by students from the University of Maryland Dental School. Transportation for the children is made possible by the Maryland State Dental Association.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the National Museum of Dentistry and the Maryland State Dental Association during this year’s Give Kids A Smile event. The need is overwhelming, and we are pleased to do our part to give children in Baltimore City access to important oral health care,” said Dr. Christian Stohler, dean of the University of Maryland Dental School.
“We are honored to join with the National Museum of Dentistry and the University of Maryland Dental School in this very important Give Kids A Smile program,” said Dr. Marc G. Nuger, President of the Maryland State Dental Association. “This is a great opportunity to reach out to the children of our community and help educate them on the importance of oral health.”
About Give Kids A Smile
As part of Give Kids A Smile, dentists and dental team members around the country are providing a range of dental services and educational programs for underserved children, while highlighting for policy makers the ongoing challenges that low-income and disabled children face in accessing dental care. Events include in-school brushing demonstrations, community screening and treatment programs, and free private dental care. Give Kids A Smile serves as an annual vehicle to focus national attention on what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a “silent epidemic” of oral disease affecting children from low-income families, and to build support for public and private solutions that will help these children get regular oral health care.
The National Museum of Dentistry
The National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a lively national center where visitors learn the importance of a healthy smile and the rich history of dentistry. Recognized for its innovative exhibits and programs that educate the public about the importance of oral health in a healthy life, the museum is designated by Congress as the official museum of the dental profession in the United States. This one-of-a-kind museum is located at 31 S. Greene Street on the campus of the University of Maryland Baltimore—home of the world’s first dental school. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for youths, seniors, and students with ID, and free for children age 6 & under and NMD members. Open Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 1–4 p.m. Call 410/706-0600 or visit www.smile-experience.org.
University of Maryland Dental School
The University of Maryland Dental School is the direct descendant of the world’s first dental college, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. The School’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Maryland through education, research and service related to health, with special emphasis on improving dental, oral and craniofacial health through comprehensive education, research and service programs. The Dental School is Maryland’s predominant provider of comprehensive and emergency oral health services for individuals of all ages, including the underserved and disadvantaged. Each year, nearly 35,000 persons are served through more than 122,000 patient visits. It is the largest provider of oral health care to persons living with HIV disease and Medicaid-eligible children in Maryland.
Maryland State Dental Association
The Maryland State Dental Association represents and supports the dental profession in its efforts to provide high quality, ethical, oral health care to the public and is the professional association for dentists in the state of Maryland. It is a state branch or constituent society of the American Dental Association. There are also twelve chapters or component dental societies geographically located throughout Maryland.
