The annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) day will take place on Friday, February 2, 2007. The program, which has treated more than 7,500 children in New Jersey since it began in 2003, offers one free day of dental care for the state’s underprivileged children. Services range from screenings to hygiene education to emergency dental treatment.
“We’re really proud of our program here in New Jersey,” says Dr. Cavan Brunsden, a pediatric dentist and the GKAS program’s statewide chairman. “We started in 2003 with only 6 sites and 300 children, and in 2007 we’ll see more than 3,500 children at more than 80 sites across the state. Our volunteers put their hearts and souls into seeing that these children get the dental care they need but can’t otherwise afford or access.”
Landmarks for the program’s fifth year include the anticipated milestones of surpassing the 10,000-child mark as well as the $2 million mark in free dental care. Last year, the GKAS program in New Jersey was recognized in the State Senate by then-Gov. Richard Codey for its charitable nature and focus on improving access to care for those children who need it most.
The GKAS program, which takes place on the same day in all 50 states and is coordinated by the American Dental Association, is managed in New Jersey by the New Jersey Dental Association. Treatment sites, strategically located around the state, will focus on delivering same-day treatment to those children with the most need and who are in pain. These sites include all of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) dental facilities, many of the state’s dental hygiene and assisting programs, medical centers and dental clinics. Virtually every county has at least one site for treatment. The UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School’s facility in Newark alone is expected to see nearly 1,000 children.
Parents, schools, community and religious groups, Head Start programs and dental professionals looking to volunteer can visit the program’s website www.njda.org/gkas for information about sites in their geographic areas and volunteer opportunities. They can also call the GKAS hotline at (888) 576-9278, leave their information and an NJDA staff member will return the call within 48 hours.