Midwestern Dental students help give kids a healthy smile

Students from Midwestern University's College of Dental Medicine-Illinois recently teamed up with the DuPage County Health Department Dental Clinic to improve children's oral health through the national Give Kids A Smile program.

As part of the Children's Dental Health Month held each February, the Give Kids A Smile program provides free oral health care services to low-income and special needs children across the country.

This year, Midwestern University dental students volunteered to work with staff dentists, hygienists, and assistants from the DCHD Dental Clinic to provide care for over 150 children. The students helped provide screenings, dental sealants, prophylaxis, and addressed urgent care needs under the supervision of board-certified dentists. "If we can make today a positive experience for kids and their families, it can make a big difference in terms of their overall health and their future experience with health care professionals," said Andrew Schwab, a fourth-year dental student at CDMI.

In total, the children received 276 dental procedures and learned additional information about the importance of regular dental care. "With every generation, we can hopefully do a little bit better with their teeth," said Doug Keller, a third-year dental student at CDMI. "People are living longer so if we can start early with good hygiene habits and taking care of their teeth a little bit better, we can keep kids smiling and give them a healthier smile for tomorrow."

Student dentists in their final years of extensive professional training also treat patients under the close supervision of licensed faculty at the Midwestern University Dental Institute. As a teaching clinic, patients can expect comprehensive, compassionate care - at about half the cost. The Dental Institute is part of Midwestern University's Multispecialty Clinic located at 3450 Lacey Road, Downers Grove, IL. For more information about the services offered at the Dental Institute, contact (630) 743-4500 or visit www.mwuclinics.com.