Give Kids a Smile's Clinic Celebrates 10th Year

Teeth that have never been cleaned, mouths full of cavities and decay, kids with no self-esteem, tears from ongoing pain, severe infections and children who simply refuse to smile – These are just a few of the many heart-breaking realities faced at Give Kids A Smile’s (GKAS) clinics, where volunteer dental professionals lent their time and talents to provide comprehensive dental care services, at no charge, to children who are in need.

The most recent clinic, held Oct. 28 and 29, marked the 10th anniversary of GKAS and the 20th consecutive free dental clinic hosted by this organization that continues to make a very tangible and transformational impact on countless kids across the region.

 At each clinic, approximately 600 infants, toddlers and school-aged children are seen by dental professionals. Comprehensive services include X-rays, professional cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, as well as restorations, endodontics and oral surgery as needed. Those under age 4 received special, age-appropriate care in the Tiny Smiles area of the clinic.

Those in need of extensive dental services that cannot be completed within the allotted clinic timeframe can obtain the needed, and often critical, follow-up care at no cost through one of the many private dental offices enrolled in GKAS’s Smile Factories program. To date, GKAS has provided 10,632 local children with $4.6 million in services with the help of more than 8,900 volunteers.

 “The services provided to visiting children are critical,” commented Tom Flavin, DDS, president of Give Kids A Smile and one of the founders of the program. “Dental disease among kids from low income families is an epidemic and, unfortunately, a distinct lack of access exists for these individuals.”

“Our goal is really very simple,” adds Flavin. “We are looking to bridge that gap and provide quality dental services to those who need it. The results are hard to sum up in words – and the impact goes way beyond the numbers. We have alleviated pain, removed severely rotted teeth, filled cavities and re-established positive self-images for thousands and thousands of young St. Louisans; not to mention our success in educating children and families and getting them to adopt and maintain good, daily oral health habits. We’re really giving children and families a reason to smile.”

 Give Kids A Smile was developed through the creativity and passion of five dedicated St. Louis dental professionals in 2002. Its clinics are executed year after year thanks to the volunteerism, donations and financial assistance received from local and national companies and organizations.

The impact of this program was so profound from the onset that the American Dental Association (ADA) adopted the program in 2003 in an effort to help communities nationwide emulate this care in their local areas. In total, the ADA helps to establish approximately 1,800 events of varying sizes nationwide, reaching nearly 450,000 children each year. The St. Louis clinic continues to serve as the nation’s largest clinic and is the only one held twice a year.