1000s of NJ Children to Receive Free Dental Care

National Dental Access Day on Friday, February 1, 2008
Posted: January 16, 2008

Thousands of NJ Children to Receive
Free Dental Care on February 1st

[January 14, 2008] The New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA) is sponsoring the 6th annual Give Kids A Smile! (GKAS) National Dental Access Day on Friday, February 1, 2008, at more than 55 locations across the state (see list of locations below).  It is expected that nearly 3,000 children will receive dental care ranging from oral hygiene education to preventive and restorative care to emergency services, all at no cost. More than 1,000 dental professionals and community volunteers will donate their time and services for this worthy event.
 
The participating locations include a combination of dental clinics, hospitals, county colleges, UMDNJ campuses, and private dental offices.  The target audience is children age 12 and under who, for a variety of reasons, may not have regular access to dental services.
 
Head Starts and school nurses all over the state were made aware of the program and have responded by alerting parents and helping to make appointments for children.  Some schools have planned the day as a field trip to learn all about the benefits of good oral health.
 
Last year the program saw its 10,000th child and reached the $2,000,000 mark in services donated since its inception in 2002. This year, the organizers of GKAS plan to grow the program even more. They also recognize that when the entire dental team pulls together, good things happen for those in need.
 
“Our spirit of teamwork throughout the dental community in New Jersey is always evident on Give Kids A Smile! day,” says Robert A. Hersh, DDS, a Freehold periodontist and president of NJDA. “Our spirit of giving back to the community also shines brightly at this event.  Dentists perform pro-bono work more than people think and it’s never about the publicity—it’s about helping people.”
 
Recent studies suggest that children are more in need of dental care than ever before in New Jersey, especially among minority children who are twice as likely to suffer from tooth decay and poor oral health.
 
“Give Kids A Smile! is but a glimmer of hope for that parent who doesn’t have dental insurance, or that child who cannot chew because of the pain,” says Cavan M. Brunsden, DMD, an Old Bridge pediatric dentist and statewide chair of GKAS. “It is not meant to be a replacement for regular dental care, but it is an opportunity for parents to get their child started on the road to good dental health.”
 
For more information about the program or any of the participating locations in your area, contact Eric Elmore at the NJDA or go to www.njda.org/gkas <http://www.njda.org/gkas> for parental consent forms and a list of participating locations.

Participating New Jersey locations:
UMDNJ - Newark, Scotch Plains, Somerdale, Galloway and Northfield
Burlington County College, Pemberton
CAMCare Health Corp, Clementon, Camden and Paulsboro
Camden County College, Blackwood
Columbus Health Center, Jersey City
Cumberland County Technical Education Center, Bridgeton
East Orange Health Department, East Orange
Gentle Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry, Manahawkin
Grill Dental, Deal
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune
JFK Medical Center, Edison
Middlesex County College, Edison
Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown
Monmouth Family Health Center, Long Branch
Mountainside Hospital, Montclair
Neighborhood Health Centers, Newton and Elizabeth
Newark Beth Isreal Medical Center, Newark
North Hudson Health Centers, Garfield and Jersey City
Ocean Health Initiative, Lakewood
Ocean Pediatric Associates, Toms River
Paterson Community Health Center, Paterson
Paterson Public Schools, Paterson
Plainfield Health Center, Plainfield
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick
St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson
Skylands Dental Care, Wantage
State Street Smiles, Hackensack
South Brunswick Dental, Monmouth Junction
Town Center Family Dental, Hillsborough
Turner Wood Dental, Glassboro
Dr. Alyssa Bernstein, Rahway
Dr. Richard Blumenfeld, West Paterson
Dr. Lawrence Brent, Cranbury
Dr. Cavan Brunsden, Old Bridge
Dr. Sidney Chonoswski, Morristown
Dr. Tonya Cook, Newark
Dr. Tuan Dao, Ventnor
Dr. Jack Gelb, Brick
Dr. Jason Lee, Dover
Dr. Cynthia Leung, Hoboken
Dr. Nicole McGrath, Montclair
Dr. Nicole Padovan-LaGrasta, Bound Brook
Dr. Norman Schwartz, Roselle Park
Dr. Spencer Schwartz, Nutley
Dr. Morris Sonbolian, Jersey City
Dr. James Susack, Pennsville
Dr. Lillian Vidal, Englewood
Dr. Sam Wakim, Paterson

The New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA), a constituent organization of the American Dental Association, is among the largest state dental associations in the country. Founded in 1870, the NJDA is headquartered in North Brunswick and serves and supports its more than 4,800 members and fosters the advancement of quality, ethical oral healthcare for the public. Two thirds of all licensed practicing dentists in the state are members of the NJDA.
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