Cal State East Bay Pre-Dental Students Help Give Kids a Smile
- February 18, 2016
Cal State East Bay Pre-Dental Students United for America’s Tooth Fairy (SUAT) will partner with the Chabot College Dental Hygiene Program to host the third annual Give Kids A Smile Day. Held at Chabot College from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Give Kids A Smile Day is an invitation for kids ages 3 to 13 to come for free dental screenings, fluoride varnish application and oral health education.
Trung Nguyen from Cal State East Bay’s SUAT chapter said that 45 children were provided oral care and oral health education last year and this year, they expect to serve at least 75 to 100 children at the Feb. 20 event. SUAT is a part of the National Children's Oral Health Foundation.
“Any high school, undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to start their own SUAT chapter at their school,” Nguyen said. “Like many other chapters, the mission of our CSUEB SUAT chapter is to do outreach and promote oral heath awareness in order to prevent and eliminate pediatric dental diseases.”
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Give Kids A Smile Day, which is supported by the American Dental Association, is hosted throughout the month by clinics, dental schools and dental-related organizations all around the country.
“We recognize that dental care is not easily available to everyone, especially those who reside in underserved areas around the East Bay,” Nguyen said. “Although it should be a right, dental care still exists as a privilege today in many areas, including Hayward.”
To participate, parents can pre-register by calling or texting (925) 398-3648 or emailing csuebsuat@gmail.com. Walk-ins are always welcome on the day of the event.