Dental hygiene, pearly white teeth and smiling faces were abundant at Owens Community College as nearly 100 area children received free dental service courtesy of the Dental Hygiene program as part of the nationwide Give Kids A Smile Day.

Owens’ Dental Hygiene program, in collaboration with the Toledo Dental Society, was among thousands of organizations that provided free dental services and educational outreach for children with limited or no access to care across the country.

Give Kids A Smile Day is a national initiative by the American Dental Association, which is dedicated to focusing attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children. Held each February in conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month, Give Kids A Smile Day provides free oral health education, screening and treatment services to children from low-income families across the country.

“I am very thankful that Owens Community College provides a day like Give Kids A Smile,” said Elizabeth Niederkorn of Northwood, whose 2-year-old daughter Lydia and 5-year-old son Cecil attended the event. “The health of a person’s teeth is so important. Teeth affect so much more than just your mouth. They can affect your overall health.”

Scott Kigar of Woodville in his Super Mario Bros. pajamas practices brushing his teeth while Owens dental hygiene student DeAnna Miller of Convoy observes.

Dental services available for free throughout the day included dental education and screening, X-rays, oral prophylaxis (cleanings), limited restorations and dental sealants. In addition, Owens students from the health program provided educational presentations for parents and children.

The College’s Dental Hygiene program provides more than 40 students with a fully accredited, scientifically current and competency-based curriculum annually. Students receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in the Dental Hygiene Clinic, while preparing to sit for the national, state or regional exam in dental hygiene.

Owens’ program also offers dental services to area residents through its Dental Hygiene Clinic. The 20-chair clinic is staffed by dental hygiene students and supervised by licensed dental professionals at Owens, and appointments are available during the fall and spring semesters for a $25 fee.

Call the clinic at 567-661-7294 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 7294 for more information.

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