LDA’s Give Kids A Smile® Day 2008 – Friday, February 22, 2008

Dentists across the country used this past February to raise awareness about the importance of oral health by providing dental screenings, education and an opportunity for future dental services to children who do not have regular access to dental care. Louisiana dentists contributed to this effort by using their time and talents to showcase National Children’s Dental Health Month and volunteer during Give Kids A Smile Day. GKAS events and NCDHM activities promoting proper dental health were held across our state. Just a few of the activities reported to the LDA included:

Bayou: The Bayou component, under the direction of Dr. Danny Melancon, held an annual poster contest for NCDHM. Forty schools submitted over 500 entries. Bayou will give away 20-25, $100 savings bonds as prizes. Among the schools that participated, the group will have a drawing for a computer, which will be rewarded to the winning school.

Greater Baton Rouge: Dr. Johnnie Hunt, Dr. Tom Kiebach, Dr. Nelson Daly, Dr. Steve Ripple, Dr. Tom Foster, Dr. Tracy Crear and Dr. Aimee Russo-Mounger also held sealant events at their offices with the help of Dr. Dionne Richardson of the Office of Public Health. Dentists who utilized the Office of Public Health and Health Care Centers in Schools said the partnership was ideal because these groups were able to contact the schools for them and work with the schools to organize transportation, chaperones and permission slips. This allowed the dentists and their staff members to see more patients and do what they do best — dentistry! Dentists who volunteered at these events included Drs. Nick Rauber, Kenneth St. Romain, Jr. and Kramer Irby. Drs. Bradley Comeaux, Paige Sigsworth and Robert Delarosa’s practice visited Duplessis Primary and Denham Springs Elementary to provide screenings and exams to over 150 children. Drs. Comeaux and Sigsworth also worked with hygienist Heather Bencaz and the Louisiana Dental Hygienists Association to organize library visits and puppet shows at Jones Creek Library and Bluebonnet Library. Dudley the Dinosaur was also there to visit the children and to teach proper brushing and flossing techniques. Dr. Ed Hood’s dental team in Denham Springs recently completed their third annual “Dentistry from the Heart” event on Friday, February 8, 2008, to celebrate dental health month and Valentine’s Day.

NODA: Under the direction of NCDHM chair Dr. Jason Parker, NODA participated in several events, including “Smiles at the Hive – Court of Dreams” in conjunction with the New Orleans Hornets on January 25, 2008. Before the game, NODA had complete use of the Hornets’ court to educate and screen along with fun and games to entertain children who came to the Hornets’ KIDZ Night at the HIVE. During the game against the Los Angeles Clippers, NODA was recognized on BUZZ Vision for their extraordinary efforts to promote dental health.

NODA passed out NCDHM material to all in-house patients of the Children’s Hospital, as well as children at Lakeside Mall and the Children’s Museum in New Orleans. NODA also collaborated with Children’s Hospital Tooth Buses and Oregon Mobile Tooth Bus and set up three locations around the New Orleans metro area. These buses delivered comprehensive dental care to the underserved population in New Orleans that was affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Northeast: The Northeast Dental Association and the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) Dental Hygiene Program held a very successful program for GKAS. The event had a great turnout and fantastic results. The event was held at the Glenwood School Based Health Center, which is located at Riser Middle School in West Monroe, on February 22, 2008. This clinic exists because many of Riser’s students do not have access to health care apart from emergency rooms. For the second year, Northeast dentists and dental hygiene students utilized the clinic to screen children for decay and treatment. Dr. Cindy Pulitzer coordinated the event along with Wendy Cranford, R.N., C.N.N., director of the Glenwood Based Health Center, and Jordan Williams, R.D.H., ULM hygiene instructor. Other dentists who volunteered with the event included Drs. Kimberly Caldwell, Wayne Cranford, Kristi Davis, Lance Donald, Robert Huffstutter, Les Tarver, Tessa Madere, Chris Owens, Sam Pulitzer, Cory Turpin, John Shepard and Lane Eddleman. The team screened over 280 Riser students. Volunteer dentists also returned to the clinic after the GKAS event to perform needed restorations to those children not covered by Medicaid and who do not have private care.

Northwest: The Northwest Dental Association, under the direction of Dr. Brian Basinger and his staff, hosted their annual GKAS event at The Children’s Dental Clinic in Shreveport on Friday, February 22, 2008, and provided screening, oral hygiene instruction and supplies to approximately 70 third graders from Werner Park Elementary School. Children needing further care were sent to various dentists around the city who volunteered their services. Ten dental hygiene students from Southern University-Shreveport campus also gave their time to assist dentists at the event. Dentists who volunteered at the event were: Drs. Jeff Silmon, Sanders Graf, Larry Robinson, Ryan Walker, Gary Caskey and Maureen Fenton.

Southwest: The Southwest district, in conjunction with the GKAS program and LDA Council on Communications member Dr. James Richard Churchman, spent half a day at the Prien Lake Mall in Lake Charles giving away toothbrushes and handouts with information concerning tooth decay prevention, oral hygiene instructions, sealants and other issues related to the overall health of teeth. This ongoing program has been sponsored for over 20 years by Southwest and its Alliance.