Oklahoma City Indian Clinic promotes kids oral health by participating in Give Kids A Smile®.
OKLAHOMA CITY- Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit clinic providing health and wellness services to American Indians in central Oklahoma, participated in Give Kids A Smile® Day on February 6, 2020.
“About 1-in-5 children will have an untreated decayed tooth,” Monica McKee said, OKCIC’s Dental Director. “By being a part of Give Kids a Smile, we were able to treat over 40 children with oral health care.”
The ADA Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile® program was launched nationally in 2003 by the American Dental Association to provide free dental visits for children. Thousands of dentists and volunteers collaborate at Give Kids A Smile® events to help provide dental care to underserved children. Today, more than 5.5 million children have been cared for throughout the nation.
February is Children’s Dental Health Month, a month to bring awareness to the benefits of starting oral health care at a young age. According to MouthHealthy by the American Dental Association, developing healthy habits of brushing teeth and regular visits to the dentist can prove medically beneficial as a child ages into adulthood. Early visits to the dentist can increase the chances of discovering minor issues before they become major issues.
During Give Kids a Smile®, children were able to receive oral health care items, which included toothbrushes, toothpaste and lip balm. Additionally, eight children also received immunizations from OKCIC’s Public Health nurse.
“OKCIC is proud to partner with Give Kids a Smile,” McKee said. “This event provides our younger patients treatment in a fun and inviting way, and teaches the fundamentals of daily oral health care.”
About Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
Oklahoma City Indian Clinic was established in 1974 to provide excellent health care and wellness services to American Indians in central Oklahoma. The clinic staff cares for more than 18,000 patients from over 200 federally recognized tribes every year. American Indians can receive a range of services, including medical, dental, pediatrics, prenatal, pharmacy, optometry, physical fitness, nutrition, family programs and behavioral health services. For more information, please call (405) 948-4900 or visit www.okcic.com.