Nearly 300 children to receive a new smile

WHAT: Smile Kentucky!, a community partnership that provides dental education, screenings and treatment to children in Louisville and surrounding counties will provide nearly $100,000 dollars in free dentistry to 300 children at 23 schools.

February 7th is the first of at least six treatment days in February and March. About 60 children from Shawnee Newcomer Academy and Trimble County schools will receive free treatment Thursday at the UofL School of Dentistry. The remainder of the children will receive free treatment at private dental offices and at the dental school. Smile Kentucky! typically performs the free dentistry in one day but last week’s snow and bitter cold canceled the event. Now, local dentists have volunteered to treat children in their offices and the UofL dental school will welcome students on select days over the next few weeks.

WHEN/WHERE: 10am – 11:30am Thursday, February 7, UofL School of Dentistry, 501 South Preston Street. **Enter through the dental school’s new entrance located on the east side of the building. Contact Julie Heflin at 502-648-9257 and she will escort you to the specific clinic for video and interviews.

ABOUT: Smile Kentucky! complements a national effort by the American Dental Association, Give Kids a Smile. The Louisville-based program, Smile Kentucky! began in 2002 as a community partnership to provide free dental education and dental screenings at school and free, comprehensive treatment to underserved children. Smile Kentucky! includes over 50 partners and since 2002 has provided over $1 million dollars of free dentistry. The education program is now part of a statewide effort. The American Dental Association calls Smile Kentucky! a model for community partnerships.

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