The mission of the project is twofold: to provide dental healthcare and education for children who may not have access to this kind of care on a regular basis and to encourage parents to seek regular dental care for their children. According to the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than half of all 5- to 9-year-old children have at least one cavity or filling.

Dr. Chuck Crawford and his staff have organized this day through the school nurses in six area elementary schools as well as the Catawba Indian Nation. Each school has been given 20 “invitations” to participate in Give Kids a Smile! at a designated time of day. The clinic expects to see as many as 140 children from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The clinic will be staffed by 12 area dentists and dental hygienists who have volunteered to work morning and afternoon shifts with the assistance of York Technical College students and faculty. Students will be involved in assisting the dentists, providing the diagnostic information for the dentist (x-rays, charting, preliminary exam) cleaning teeth, placing dental sealants, oral hygiene education, “routing” kids to specific areas, managing the sterilization center and set up and break down of the dental operatories.

For more information about the national and statewide efforts, visit the websites of the American Dental Association (www.ada.org) or the South Carolina Dental Association (www.scda.org).

York Technical College . 452 S. Anderson Road . Rock Hill, SC 29730