Children’s Dental Day at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Held on the first Friday in February, the event provides access to dental care for nearly 200 needy children from central and eastern Nebraska each year.
This year children from 11 communities across Nebraska will visit the college on Feb. 6 where dental faculty, staff and students will be waiting to whisk them through a day of care that includes – cleanings, extractions, fillings and root canals, as well as educational games and activities.
Since 2001, more than 5,000 children have received more than $2 million in care. This year children from Lexington and surrounding communities, Norfolk, Columbus, Madison, Stanton, Wayne, Crete, Hastings, York, West Point and Lincoln are expected to attend. Some of these children will be seeing a dentist for the first time.
“We are so pleased to be helping 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.
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.
While upper level dental and dental hygiene students work in the clinics, many of the first-year students facilitate games and activities with the children, including those that teach good snack choices, how soda pop affects their teeth, what decay looks like and how to brush and floss.
Lunch and healthy snacks also are provided and each child receives a goody bag of items, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, activity book and stickers to take home with them.
The dental and dental hygiene students will once again 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 also will be participating. Physician assistant students from Union College will once again assist with patient registration and clinic check in, as well as interact with the nursing and dental college 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 give a lot on Children's Dental Day but I think we receive even more."
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu and follow us on social media.
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