Eleventh Annual "Give Kids a Smile Day" Set for Feb. 3

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine will mark eleven years of providing free treatment to Western New York children who don't have access to dental care when they hold their annual "Give Kids a Smile Day" on Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Squire Hall on UB's South Campus.

This year, the UB Pediatric Dentistry Department's off-campus office on Abbott Road in Buffalo also will participate in the event.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown will deliver a proclamation to Squire Hall endorsing "Give Kids a Smile Day" and to encourage those who currently don't have a dentist to use the UB dental school to find a dental home.

Approximately 600 school children, including those from Head Start centers, will receive a free dental exam, fluoride treatment, x-rays, sealants and oral hygiene instruction.

Upon leaving the UB clinics, children will be equipped with a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and instructions on how to keep their teeth healthy. Limited restorative dental work will be available, as well as additional treatment or consultation as needed.

Parents and children will be offered tours of the dental clinics, hands-on activities, dental videos and oral hygiene instruction.

Among the several hundred volunteers who will keep the day running smoothly are UB dental school faculty, staff and students; private local dentists and their staffs; faculty and students from Erie Community College's Dental Hygiene Program and the UB Equal Opportunity Center's Dental Assisting Program.

The Buffalo event is part of a national effort to motivate children to adopt good dental health habits early, in order to prevent major problems later in life.

The event is a partnership with the American Dental Association and the 8th District Dental Society.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.