| The Problem
- Tooth decay (dental caries) is the most
common chronic disease of childhood. For example,
5 times more frequent than asthma.
- Tooth decay interferes with routine activities
in millions of children living in poverty.
The suffering of these children includes chronic
toothache, searing pain from dental abscesses,
disfigured smiles, dysfunctional speech, and
eating difficulties.
- Over 51,000,000 school hours are lost each
year to dental related illness. Poor children
suffer almost 12 times more restricted activity
days than children from higher income families.
- The high cost of health care virtually prohibits
impoverished families from receiving quality
dentistry.
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| Christina's Smile - A Solution
Christina's Smile, a non profit mobile dental care facility,
provides free dental care to children in need.
Identified through social and community service
organizations, children in each community served
receive comprehensive, "most needed" dental
treatment at no charge.
The Clinic is housed in a 48 foot trailer equipped with three
dental treatment stations, x-ray equipment,
and an instrument sterilization area. It travels
to at least 20 communities across the US annually,
bringing quality dental care to children in
need from inner cities, migrant worker camps,
and homeless shelters as well as to children
in residential treatment facilities and those
from uninsured, working poor families.
The clinic shows dentistry at its best. Between Dr. Garza, the
volunteer dentists and assistants, each child
receives a comprehensive exam and immediately
needed dental care. Many of the children
have lived with chronic dental pain or serious
dental disease and deterioration for months,
even years, before gaining access to the Clinic.
The volunteer dentists perform extractions,
fillings, root canal treatments, and provide
crowns and sealants.
Working through local charitable organizations, children are
identified. Approximately 40 children are treated
each day of the three day clinic. Children
may also be referred to community organizations
for follow up care, and numerous volunteer dentists
invite children to their private practices to
complete necessary dentistry at no charge. Approximately
$65,000 to $75,000 worth of dentistry is delivered
during each three day clinic.
Why Christina's Smile?
Because All Children
Deserve to SMILE! |
