The Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry will host Give Kids a Smile Day on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, and members of the media are welcome to attend.
At Give Kids a Smile Day, children from St. Malachy’s School on Chicago’s West Side, infants and children from the El Valor social service agency, and high schoolers will receive free oral screenings and oral care education.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will be on hand for a press conference beginning at 9 a.m.
Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn, a frequent participant in Give Kids a Smile Day, has been invited.
The press conference also will feature UIC College of Dentistry Dean Bruce Graham; Dr. Indru Punwani, Interim Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Bridgid Miller, Principal of St. Malachy’s; and other officials from UIC and from organized dentistry, including the Chicago Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society, American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists. In addition, a representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics will be invited.
They will talk about the importance of youngsters receiving oral healthcare and of dentists providing oral healthcare to underserved communities. They also will tour the Department of Pediatric Dentistry clinic while the youngsters are receiving oral healthcare. Photo opportunities will be available.
The press conference will be held in Room 230-D of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry building, 801 S. Paulina St., Chicago, IL 60612.
For more information, contact Karen Patton of the UIC College of Dentistry Department of Pediatric Dentistry at (312) 996-1994 or kpatton@uic.edu.
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry is celebrating its 100th year as a college of the University of Illinois in 2013 with special events throughout the year under the theme “A Proud Past, A Brilliant Future.”