Area Children Have a Reason to Smile
On April 9th, the United Way of Jasper County and the Grinnell Regioinal Medical Center Mother-Child Wellness Program's I-Smile Oral Health Coordinator sponsored the 9th Annual Give Kids a Smile Day. As a result of their participation, 41 children and youth received much needed dental attention. Dr. R.E. Mount of Associated Dentists, Dr. Brandi Mace of Mace Family Dental, Dr. Robert Kuhn, Dr. Eric Forsberg of Newton Family Dentistry and Dr. Steven Rabedeaux of The Dental Practice and their staffs opened their hearts and doors to provide free dental care to children in grades K though 12 who otherwise might not have received treatment.
For some children, this was their first trip to the dentist and for others, their first toothbrush. Each participant received a dental exam, x-rays, fluoride treatment and oral health products to take home. Some children received sealants as well as restorative dental work. Follow-up work was noted and is being coordinated with Kim Howard, RDH, I-Smile Oral Health Coordinator. In all, the dentists and their staffs provided over $8,300 in free dental treatment.Other community partners that made this day a success were Kris Simbro, Newton School District Transportation Director, who coordinated the transportation of the participants among four schools and the dental providers, Newton school nurses and staff who helped identify children in need, Scott Creech at Dominos for donating pizza to the dentist offices and high school students from Jill Hook's Child Development class who volunteered to supervise the children in the dentist's waiting rooms as their waited their turn.