Dental Implants

Local dentists, orthodontists and periodontists will provide free dental screenings, treatments and education for more than the expected 100 children, whose families do not have adequate insurance and don’t qualify for Medicaid.

“Looking into some of these children’s mouthes and seeing teeth look like charcoal and to see a doctor go to work is an experience on its own,” said Jared Hansen, executive director of Utah Give Kids A Smile since 2004. “There are over 100,000 kids who need dental care but can’t afford it.”

With four different locations beside Utah County, Give Kids A Smile is a statewide project that is 100 percent volunteer- based and this Saturday will treat 600 children in five hours, Hansen said.

“We don’t want our donated money going to overhead … buildings, supplies and labor, everything is donated so the kids get every dollar,” Hansen said.

For every $1 donated, $61 of dental work can be done. To help cover the cost of cleaning, Henry Schein Dental, one of the largest contributors for the Utah Give Kids A Smile, will donate more than $50,000 of materials for treatment care.

“If you went to a dentist and were treated, the office would have all the right supplies to treat most anything,” said Anne Myers, administration representative for Henry Myers and state supply council member for Utah Give Kids a Smile for the State Board.

“We are trying to recreate a dentist office for the children and give them all they need to have better smiles,” she said.

Title One schools in Utah are the main target for locating kids that need treatment and relief from dental pain, Myers said. Children with gum disease, tooth pain and decaying teeth have a high risk of self-esteem issues and are at risk of speech problems later in life.

If children come to the event and need more work than can be offered, free vouchers donated by the doctors allow children to visit them in their personal office to receive further treatment.

“Last year, an orthodontist came into the event, saw the need for a child and donated extensive orthodontic work for the child,” said Angie Catmull, event coordinator for the 2011 Utah County Give Kids A Smile. “In 2010, 134 Utah County kids received dental work and $83,866 of dental work was donated.”

Saturday’s event will be held at Utah College of Dental Hygiene, 1176 S 1480 West, Orem. The event is for registered children who have been pre-selected to receive dental treatment by Utah Give Kids A Smile.

Dentists Craig Harder and Carrie Tatum and the staff at Moses Lake Family Dentistry will host the 12th annual children's dentistry day on Feb. 25.

The staff provides cleanings, examinations, and necessary treatment for any child age 18 or under at no charge.

"We love being a part of this close-knit community and every year my staff and I look forward to free kids' day where we can contribute to the well-being of some of our youngest members," says Harder.

Last year more than 100 children received care and more than $35,000 in dentistry services were donated during the annual event.

Dr. Harder uses early-stage cavity-detecting lasers and advanced formula fluoride varnishes for a proactive approach to protecting teeth from decay-causing bacteria and cavities.

"Tooth decay is a disease that cannot be treated with immunizations or by a physician. Early detection, proper home care and with a healthy diet, can give children the knowledge and means to protect and maintain a healthy smile," says Harder.

For more information about National Children's Dental Health Month, or getting a child you know involved in Moses Lake Family Dentistry's free children's dentistry day, contact Robyn at 509-765-4351.

“This is really for people that cannot afford dental care, that don`t have insurance- that basically just cannot get work done,” said Dr. Sid Schmidt.

Blanca Delacruz was one of the patients who took benefit of the emancipated services.

“I haven`t gotten any insurance because I don`t know how to get it. I don`t have a lot of money to get insurance,” added Delacruz.

Schmidt says whatsoever patients who originate in beggary treatments same extractions or smaller fillings. Many patients leave provide with formulation set, others with less set. But most instrument reach somatesthesia amend.

“A lot of patients I`ve seen this morning have just been having teeth that have been hurting them for years and this is something where we`re able to get them out of pain, which is a really great thing for them and makes us feel good, too,” said Schmidt.

Before the part unsealed at 8 a.m., there was already a genealogy surface the entryway, with fill future in from Region Siouan to City. But for those who are uninsured, the inactivity wasn`t a job.

“I won`t get a chance to see a doctor in another, I don`t know, year or so, so this was my only chance. Waiting outside in the cold, I think it was worth it,” said Delacruz.

Parting period, Statesman says they provided $35,000 in dental learning. He says his colleagues actualise there is a necessary for dental fear in the vocation