Penn Dental Medicine provided free dental care to children in April as part of the Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) annual Give Kids a Smile program. The school was one of 19 sites in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties to participate in this year’s event.
Students and faculty provided care at Penn Dental’s pediatric care center and at Puentes de Salud on April 21 and April 28. They also treated children on board the PennSmiles dental van on April 21, 22, 28, and 29. Overall, 94 children were served.
“We are pleased to partner with PCCY on Give Kids a Smile,” said Dr. Joan Gluch, chief of the Division of Community Oral Health.
“Dental decay is the most common childhood disease, and sadly, many Philadelphia school children don’t get the dental care they need to prevent and treat cavities. The Give Kids a Smile program aims to provide dental care today as well as connect parents with resources for continuing dental care for their children,” said Gluch.
Children received comprehensive oral exams, cleanings, X-rays as needed, and even some fillings and extractions. Follow-up appointments also were made for any children who required restorative care or preventive procedures.
In addition to offering free care, the program aims to help families enroll in public health insurance programs so their children can continue to receive dental care. Penn Dental said its pediatric care center provides affordable, quality care for infants, children, and adolescents.
Throughout all of the participating practices and locations, PCCY’s Give Kids a Smile served 439 children in April.
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