Friday event to highlight children's dental care needs

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

On Friday, April 12, an estimated 20 children from Putnam County families will receive free dental services ranging from dental screenings and cleanings to sealants and fillings or more as part of the national Give Kids a Smile Day which is normally scheduled nationally in the month of February.

The Give Kids a Smile Program was inaugurated in 2003 by the American Dental Association (ADA) to provide care and raise awareness of the importance of access to dental care for low-income children.

Dr. John Hennette of Greencastle Pediatric Dentistry will be donating his staff and services.

Dr. Hennette and his staff will be working closely with the county school nurses to provide needed dental care for eligible children ages 4-16. Only children who have been screened by the county schools nursing staff are eligible.

Dental cavities (caries) are present in more than 25 percent of all children aged 2-11years. It is a disease that is five times more common than asthma.

"Putnam County children are not immune from this disease process," Dr. Hennette said. "I have been involved with cases where the children are no longer able to sleep, eat or focus in school and have reached the point where the only alternative is a mouth full of crowns or the extracting of teeth that cannot be saved."

Dr. Hennette and his staff hope to make good oral health a priority for all children in the community. They seek to educate policymakers and parents that good oral hygiene is integral to overall health and preventive measures like fluoridation and sealants result in long-term savings.

Due to the need for signed parental permission and other documentation, Give Kids a Smile events can only see children who are registered in advance through the schools and their nursing staffs.

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