BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
Most children have a ready smile for their school pictures, but often bad teeth and gums can cause pain or embarrassment that keep them from smiling. Recent research also has shown that unhealthy teeth and gums can cause many other health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Give Kids A Smile Day this February and March will help many East Baton Rouge Parish School System children keep smiling and help prevent dental issues.
On Friday, February 24, and on Friday, March 2, many first and second graders will have a lot to smile about when area dentists close up shop just to take care of the dental needs of over 1,000 East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) students selected for assistance.
At elementary schools near participating dental offices, consent packets were sent home with qualifying students. Parents or guardians must return the completed forms for children to be able to participate in this free dental program.
The students will be provided educational materials and dental screenings, as well as preventative care, to selected low-income children who do not have access to proper dental care.
The effort is part of the American Dental Association's (ADA) National Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program and also, in part, to acknowledge February as national Children's Dental Health Month.
According to the national Center for Disease Control, nearly one in four children between the ages of 2 and 11 years old have untreated cavities in their baby teeth. Many children enrolled in Medicaid receive no dental services throughout the year.
The dental care is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The school district will be busing the selected children from specific elementary schools to participating offices for dental services. The work is completely free and donated. The dates and the participating dental offices in the Baton Rouge area are:
February 24: Dr. Lee Koschel
February 24: Just Kids Dental (Dr. Billy Hall, Dr. Caroline Black, Dr. Clare Berthelot and Dr. Ryan Shinska)
March 2: LSU Health Sciences Center Dental Clinic (Dr. Ben Record and residents)
For more information, visit www.ladental.org.
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