“Give Kids A Smile!” is the annual centerpiece of National Children’s Dental Health Month. On the first Friday in February, the nation’s dentists will provide free oral health care services to low-income children across the country. In addition to helping children in need, “Give Kids A Smile! highlights for policymakers the ongoing challenges that disadvantaged children face in accessing dental care.

 

With the leadership of the North Carolina Dental Society, thousands of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental office staff, dental students, members of the public health community, and other volunteers work together to make “Give Kids A Smile!” a success each year. North Carolina has been part of GKAS since it began in 2003, and we take great pride in having helped thousands of children in our State overcome the pain and suffering that often occurs with a lack of regular dental care. Many of these children are unable to eat or sleep properly, are not able to pay attention in school, and may risk other, even more serious health problems, as a result of poor oral health.

 

Volunteers provide free care to children across the State — whether it be dental treatment, prevention, and/or educational programs. In each county, local teams plan oral health programs specifically designed to fit the needs of the community. The teams identify sites and schedule volunteers to provide care for children who have usually been identified and pre-screened by public schools and county health departments. While specific GKAS activities vary from county to county, the importance of oral health care prevention and treatment is the focus of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Drs. Elliott and Molina,

Thank you for your support of Baskets of Hope this year.  Your generous gifts of toothbrushes & toothpaste really helped to make this project a huge success.  On a personal note your staff was one of the first groups to respond to my request for help & donations.  I was overwhelmed by your donations & it made me believe that we could make it happen!  This was the first year to ask for dental supplies, but it just made sense for the types of recipients these baskets were going to!  They need all the help they can get & I know their teeth do too!

 

With your help, we ended up distributing over 760 baskets to children all over Wake County & the surrounding area!  The baskets went to Wake County foster children- most of them abused & neglected, some refugee families and to many of the families at the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill!  All of these children benefited from the dental supplies you provided.

 

By the way, of all the dentists who helped us, you were the only one to give kid’s toothbrushes with characters on them.  That’s what kids love!  Thank you for that!!

Ashley Van Wormer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few of the organizations we are proud to have given our time and heart to...

 

• Sponsor for Walk, Run & Roll for Inclusive Play

 

• Volunteer work at Give Kids a Smile

 

• Volunteer work at Wake Smiles

 

• Volunteer work at Missions of Mercy

 

• Dr. Molina teaches radiology to the Wake Tech Dental Assistant Students.

 

• Cary Pediatric Dentistry and their wonderful Dental Assistants and Hygienist go out to various schools in the Cary area to raise awareness and eduction for Children’s Health Month every February.

 

• Dr. Molina does volunteer teaching for the undergraduate dental students at UNC.

 

• Dr. Elliott does volunteer teaching for the undergraduate dental students at both UNC and the University of Louiville.

 

• We have many dental students from Wake Tech and CCCC who come and shadow throughout the year with our office to expand their hands on experience and knowledge.

 

 

Relationship with Corrall Riding as well as volunteer work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relationship with Horse and Buddy