Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Give Kids a Smile

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, January 31, 2005

Streaming Video of Broadcast:
Give Kids a Smile
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At thousands of locations across the country this week, dentists and their staffs are giving free dental care to children. It's time for the annual "Give Kids a Smile" program sponsored by the American Dental Association. And this year, they have help from a well-known Olympic champion with a winning smile. Dr. Linda Niessen has more in this segment of Dental Health Check.

For many years, Carly Patterson was a student of gymnastics. Now, she hopes to become a student of dentistry. Her first step is serving as the ambassador for "Give Kids A Smile," a campaign to provide free dental care to disadvantaged children.

"I feel very lucky to be able to go to the dentist every time I need to and to have good oral health care. A lot of people don't get that. It's really a shock to me that millions of kids don't get the dental care that they really need," said Carly.

"It's cool because I've always wanted to be involved in dentistry."

Last week, Carly visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill to raise awareness about a silent epidemic among America's poor children: chronic tooth decay and infection.

"When kids are in pain, its hard for them to concentrate on their schoolwork or sports or what they love to do."

On the front lines of the epidemic are public health volunteers such as Gene Niswander of the Kiwanis Dental Clinic in East Dallas.

"It's 7 times more common than hay fever Kiwanis Dental Clinic  and 5 times more common than asthma in terms of being a reason for missing school," said Gene.
     
A year ago, Texas lawmakers cut all dental services from the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. About 350-thousand Texas children lost dental benefits.

Carly added, "This Friday, Feb. 4th will be my 17th Birthday and also Give Kids a Smile Day."

This Friday, Feb. 4th, children can receive free dental care through the Give Kids A Smile Program. Call 972-386-5741 to locate a participating dentist. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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