Traverse Bay Give Kids a Smile Program is set to begin November 4, 2009.  A community outreach program of the Traverse Health Clinic, Traverse Bay Give Kids a Smile will visit 1st and 3rd graders in 21 schools in Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Kalkaska and Antrim counties between November 2009 and February 2010.

Local volunteer dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants will provide oral health classroom education and provide an oral screening of the children, with parent consent.  All children in visited classrooms will receive a tooth care kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss).

Beginning its fourth year of directly accessing children in schools, Traverse Health Clinic is interested in providing awareness to families about the dental programs and services offered in our community.  There are children in our area who are in need of assistance.  Of parents who report an inability to obtain dental care for their children, one-half report lack of insurance as the main reason.  Twenty-five percent of the children screened in our 5 county areas during the last school year showed obvious signs of decay or urgent needs.

To help or for more information, please call Rene Louchart, Traverse Health Clinic Dental Director, at 231-935-0799, ext. 19.

This event is sponsored by the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, Henry Schein, Inc., Traverse Health Clinic, Proctor & Gamble, Tom’s Food Markets, Northwestern Michigan College Dental Assisting Program, United Way of Northwest Michigan, Resort District Dental Society, Northland Dental Hygienists’ Society, and Traverse Bay Intermediate School District.