The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will annually help up to 3,000 children from low-income families to access dental care through Bright Smiles, an early childhood oral health program developed by United Way and its community partnerships. The $1.1 million grant goes to the Partnership for Improving Children's Oral Health, a collaborative of community clinics and organizations, which will deliver the oral health and education services in Ramsey County.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, affecting 50% of first graders, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. The Bright Smiles program began in 2004 with two St. Paul clinics, helping more than 800 Hmong and Latino children receive appropriate oral health screenings, fluoride treatments and restorative dental care while helping them learn habits that will ensure good oral health throughout their lives. With this new grant United Way will broaden the reach of the program to target children from all families with limited means, regardless of ethnicity.
The fourth annual "Give Kids a Smile" was held Feb. 3-4, giving more than 6,000 children whose families cannot afford to pay for dental care the opportunity to be seen statewide by volunteer dental professionals at
206 locations. Children under age 18 obtained check-ups, sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings or even more involved care,
totaling a record $1.4 million in free care. Information was made
available in five languages, and no financial eligibility
requirements were imposed.
In addition to the Knight Foundation, sponsors include Patterson Dental, Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota, Minnesota Dental Foundation, HealthPartners, 3M
and United Way 2-1-1. Sponsors helped underwrite an ad campaign on
WCCO-TV to spread the word about the free care. The statewide
outreach effort has grown into one of the largest programs of free
dental care in the United States.
"Access to oral health is a major problem and the Minnesota Dental Association is committed to making sure that every child has access to quality care," said Dr. Jim Zenk, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. "Give Kids a Smile is just one example of how deeply committed dentists are to giving every child the care they deserve."
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