Approximately 350 area elementary school students received free dental care at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry on Friday, February 6, 2009, as part of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile program. Also on Friday, following the Give Kids a Smile program, the Dental School conducted its annual Dental Care with a Heart program, which provides free dental care to patients who are referred to the school by area social service shelters.
All of the 240 dental stations in the Dental School’s main clinic were devoted to Give Kids a Smile and Dental Care with a Heart, and virtually all of the school’s students and clinical faculty pitched in to care for patients participating in the two programs. Third- and fourth-year dental students delivered care with the assistance of first- and second-year students. Senior dental hygiene students delivered care, as well. Penn Valley dental assisting students, members of UMKC’s Pre-Dental Club and dentists from the Greater Kansas City Dental Society also participated. The dental care delivered by student dentists was supervised by clinical faculty.
The UMKC School of Dentistry conducts Give Kids a Smile in partnership with the Score 1 for Health community health program sponsored by Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and the Deron Cherry Foundation. The children who participated in Give Kids a Smile were selected during routine health screenings that Score 1 for Health performs at elementary schools in the KCMO, KCK, Hickman Mills and Raytown School Districts. Score 1 for Health subsidized and arranged the bus transportation for the children participating in Give Kids a Smile.
This is the fourth year the School of Dentistry has participated in Give Kids a Smile. The school has been conducting Dental Care with a Heart since 1995. For more information, contact Dr. Michael McCunniff, director of Outreach Programs, 816-235-2185.
About the UMKC School of Dentistry
The UMKC School of Dentistry originated in 1881 as the Kansas City Dental College. The name has changed and the school has grown and evolved into a multi-faceted institution, but it has maintained a tradition of excellence in education for over a century. The School offers a varied and complete range of educational experiences for students of dentistry and dental hygiene and for graduate and continuing education students.
About UMKC
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Celebrating 75 years, UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience.