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Free youth dental clinic serves about 60Feb 12, 2011 (Norwalk Reflector - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- About 60 youngsters took advantage of "Give Kids a Smile Day" this year, local dentist Dr. Joseph Kim said. The event, in its ninth year, is a free dental clinic, providing dental screenings for low income children, those without insurance or who simply don't have a dentist. Kim said seven dentists and two hygienists, including himself, served about 40 children in Norwalk. Another 20 or so received care at a satellite location at Willard Middle school, he said. Kim said the location in southern Huron County was set up to make it more convenient for providers and patients who live there. "I believe that Willard thinks it was a Godsend," Kim said. He added the southern Huron County clinic will operate next year. Give Kids a Smile Day is usually held in February, which is Dental Health Awareness Month -- an American Dental Association awareness event. Kim said several years ago, Huron County was flooded with 85 to 90 youngsters. "We were just slammed with kids. Of course, it was a really nice day," Kim said. The last couple of years, perhaps weather conditions played a role in the decreased numbers, he added. As one of the options for follow-up care, Huron County has brought in The Smile Express, a fully-functional mobile dental unit to provide follow-up care for problems found during "Give Kids a Smile." For more information, call The Smile Express at (419) 725-2519. For more information about Give Kids a Smile Day, call the Huron County General Health District at (419) 668-1652. To see more of the Norwalk Reflector or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.norwalkreflector.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Norwalk Reflector, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |