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Learn about the program and how to get involved.
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| How it Works | The Need for Care | A True Community Effort | Steering Committee & Sponsors |
| Curriculum | Education Material for Teachers | Contact Information | Photo Gallery |
Smile Kentucky! works with school
districts to select the schools. The
program is two-fold: dental education and treatment. The program runs from
August through February.
During the first phase, Smile
Kentucky! volunteers visit each school, providing a dental education program
to every classroom. On the same
day, children in
grades 3 - 5 or 6 receive a free dental
screening. Local dentists and hygienists provide the screenings.
Every child at the school receives a Colgate toothbrush and
toothpaste, and a free, reusable Pure Tap®
water bottle.
Teachers receive a dental curriculum, aligned to Kentucky Core
Content.
During the second phase, Smile Kentucky! provides free, comprehensive dental treatment to medically underserved children from the selected schools. Information gathered from the screenings is used to identify children who need dental treatment and have no insurance or federal assistance. Those children come to the University of Louisville School of Dentistry on a selected date. Local dentists, hygienists and dental assistants provide the free treatment.
The campaign hopes to bring
attention to what the
U.S. Surgeon General has called a “silent
epidemic” of oral disease affecting children from low-income families.
The Surgeon General’s 2000 report found dental decay is the most
common disease affecting U.S. children, occurring at five times the rate of
asthma and seven times that of hay fever.
A 2001 Kentucky study found 29% of
school children examined in the 3rd and 6th grades had
visible dental decay; another 20% said they’d had a toothache in the past
month. Oral health problems can affect a child’s overall health including
speech, eating patterns and concentrating in school.
Smile Kentucky! originated in 2002 from an existing partnership between Louisville Water Company, the Louisville Dental Society and the UofL School of Dentistry. The group wanted to make an impact on the health of the community’s children. The funding for Smile Kentucky! comes from its steering committee and grants. For example, Colgate donates 17,000 toothbrushes and toothpaste. Louisville Water Company donates 17,000 reusable Pure Tap® water bottles and curriculums for teachers. Sullivan Schein Dental donates supplies to screen 5,000 children and treatment for another 400. The UofL School of Dentistry hosts Smile Kentucky! Treatment Day in their clinics.
In all over 600 volunteers make the program work - - from employees, dental students, TARC, local school systems, and dental supply companies. Smile Kentucky! complements an effort by the American Dental Association to provide care to underserved children.
Smile
Kentucky! Steering Committee
Bullitt County Health Department
Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures
Henry Schein Dental
Jefferson County Public Schools
Louisville Dental Society
Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness
Louisville Water Company
NorthWest AHEC
UofL School of Dentistry
The 2010-11 Smile Kentucky! program is made possible by the following:
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3M ESPE
Dental Products
Carestream Health (Kodak & Cooke-Waite)
Dentsply
Caulk
Dr. Samuel D. Harris Fund |
Plehn’s Bakery
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Click on the curriculums to download lesson plans and activities.
Smile Kentucky Curriculum
Where's the Sugar? Booklet
Calculate Your Sugar Consumption
Smile
Kentucky! Education Materials
Smile Kentucky! includes a dental curriculum aligned to Kentucky Core Content. The material is designed for grades k-5 and includes hands-on activities, open response questions and other activities. To request a free copy, contact Kelley Dearing Smith via email or call (502) 569-3695.
Smile
Kentucky! Contact Information
To learn more about Smile Kentucky! contact:
Kelley Dearing Smith
Louisville Water Company
(502) 569-3695Dr. Lee Mayer
U of L School of Dentistry
(502) 852-1209
Dr. Mike Mansfield
U of L School of Dentistry
(502) 852-2099
Smile Kentucky! provides free dental screenings at school to children in grades three through six. Local dentists and hygienists provide the screenings. Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Dental Van visits rural schools.
Every child takes part in education programs that look at the amount of sugar in snacks, the value of fluoride and the importance of seeing the dentist regularly.
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Over 300 children receive free, comprehensive treatment the first Friday in February at the U of L School of Dentistry. Dentists, hygienists, U of L faculty and senior dental students provide the care. Other volunteers coordinate transportation, logistics and lunch! The value of the treatment exceeds $100,000.
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