March 02, 2023
Media Advisory: Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the annual Give Kids a Smile Day at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Friday, March 3.
This year’s event, for children from infants to 14 years old, has an added component – free vision, hearing and blood pressure screenings.
Sponsored by the university’s Dental Hygiene Program, the event is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the SIU Carbondale Dental Hygiene Clinic, which is west of the SIU Arena.
The free dental care is for children who do not receive regular dental treatment and who do not have regular access to dental care. This year, all slots were filled two days after registration opened.
This is the 20th anniversary for the community service program that began in 2003 with about 50 children participating over two days. In the ensuing years, it grew to serve more than 200. However, this year the number of participants has been scaled back a little to allow everyone to receive the full range of services, and about 75 children will be attending, organizers say.
Participating children will receive dental examinations, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants and fillings, or simple extractions under special circumstances. The program also works to find a “dental home” for patients if there is a need for additional treatment.
Vision and hearing screenings will be provided to participants through the mobile unit of the Lions Club of Carbondale, which will be on site. In addition, the Dental Hygiene Program has partnered with SIU’s Nursing program to provide free blood pressure screenings for participants and their parents.
For more information, contact Jennifer M. McKinnies, assistant professor and Give Kids a Smile Day coordinator, at 618-453-8826 or by email at jenn10@siu.edu.