"My experience has been excellent from start to finish. I've always been informed about all the options and costs. I've been treated with care and..."
Giving kids a smile: local dentists provide a day of free dental care
The Bridgeport News, February 12th, 2009
February 06, 2009
Bridgeport children from low-income families recently were given a chance to smile thanks to free dental service offered on Give Kids a Smile Day. Phillip DeJesus and Associates on upper Main Street was one of the many local dental practices that provided free oral health care to youngsters who don’t have dental insurance. “We have been part of this program for four to five years,” DeJesus said, “and our main concern is that the lower-income families get the same kind of care.” DeJesus said the children who visit his practice on Give Kids a Smile had problems ranging from minor to major, with the main issue being cavities. He and his staff also tried to educate parents on proper oral health care, he said. Maria Gonzalez, a parent who brought her 5-year-old son Felipe to DeJesus, was pleased that Felipe could receive care without her having to worry about the cost. “I feel very good with this program because I don’t have any insurance, and it is very expensive,” Gonzalez said. This was the first time Gonzalez had her son participate in Give Kids a Smile Day, and she said she was looking forward to coming back next year. Felipe was too shy to respond to a reporter’s question, but was happy to show his brand new smile. The Oral Health Bridgeport Initiative (ORBIT), a program of the Southwestern Area Health Education Center, coordinated the local Give Kids a Smile effort. Staff from ORBIT worked with the Bridgeport Dental Association to provide free screenings and cleanings to families at nearby dental offices. “The children need services to keep up their oral health,” said Vani Anand, ORBIT coordinator. The nonprofit ORBIT works year-round to provide dental services for those with limited financial resources, using mainly federal funds to pay participating dentists. The number of dentists who work with ORBIT has been increasing since 2007, when reimbursement rates increased. “A couple of years ago there were less than 200 dentist participated and now we are up to 500,” Anand said. Give Kids a Smile Day takes place annually in February during National Children’s Dental Health Month. Children were offered exams, x-rays, extractions, crowns and other services. Appointments for free care are open to children through age 18 without dental insurance, while the screenings offered by several ORBIT agencies were open to children with or without dental insurance. Program a decade old Give Kids a Smile began in 1999, ORBIT officials said, and has been growing ever since by attracting more families and dentists every year. “We are trying to promote getting a child to the dentist by age 1,” said Anand, noting oral health care affects all aspects of a child’s life. Twenty-one dentists participated in Give Kids a Smile Day in 2007, but that increased to 32 dentists in 2008 and 48 dentists this year. The number of children served this year was 300, up from 173 the previous year, Anand said. Services provided last year were valued at $76,000 and ORBIT officials think that may have doubled this year due to the increase in participating children and dentists. Anand said one dentist, Dr. Cynthia A. Bartolone, was scheduled to see 45 children on Give Kids a Smile Day. “Dr. Bartolone is a very generous person,” Anand said. Gonzalez, the mother of Felipe, was grateful for the free assistance for her son’s teeth at Phillip DeJesus and Associates. “Seeing the smile on my son’s face makes me happy that there are programs like this to help my family and others.” Gonzalez said.
CONTACT
Rowena White
White Light Advertising
(203) 338-0183
Rowena@whitelightadvertising.com
