Harper College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic will offer free dental care for children ages 5 to 15 as part of the American Dental Association Foundation’s annual Give Kids a Smile initiative.
Harper’s Dental Hygiene Clinic consists of 18 dental hygiene stations with state-of-the-art technology, including X-ray and sterilization rooms. It simulates a real-world working environment for dental hygiene students, who are able to perform all their clinical work on-site before going on to work at dental offices.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing and learning.
Many children enrolled in Medicaid receive no dental services. Since the Give Kids a Smile program’s launch in 2003, more than 5.5 million underserved children have received free oral health services. About 40,000 volunteers nationwide provide these free services.
Source: Daily Herald
