Students, faculty and staff volunteers from University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry are celebrating National Children's Dental Health Month in February by offering two free community health events for Bay Area children and families.

Union City "Give Special Kids a Smile" Event
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
At the school's affiliated Union City Dental Care Center, the Dugoni School and the Southern Alameda County Dental Society are teaming up to hold a "Give Special Kids a Smile" event on Saturday, Feb. 10 between 9:00 am and 1:30 pm. Volunteers will offer free dental screenings for children and adults with physical and/or mild developmental disabilities. Each patient will receive a free dental screening, a free dental health kit with toothbrush, paste, floss and other goodies, and possible treatment procedures. Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents, guardians and caretakers should register their patients in advance for the event. There is no insurance required or requested at the event.

Location:
Union City Dental Care Center
1203 J Street
Union City, CA 94587
For more information, please call 510.782.5442

San Francisco "Give Kids a Smile" Children's Dental Health Fair
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

A free "Give Kids a Smile" dental health fair will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry's Hutto Patterson Pediatric Dentistry Clinic in downtown San Francisco, Kids are invited for free dental check-ups, cleanings, fluoride treatment, sealants, orthodontic evaluations, games, entertainment, Little Explorers' Petting Zoo and more. More than $150 in free dental services will be provided to each child! The event is open to children up to age 17 (accompanied by an adult). No appointments are required. If you have any questions, please call the pediatric clinic at 415.929.6550.

Location:
University of the Pacific
Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
155 Fifth Street (at Minna)
San Francisco, CA 94103

Each year, the Dugoni School participates in the nationwide "Give Kids a Smile" program to serve local children and families, including those who may not have a dental home. "Give Kids a Smile" was started by the American Dental Association in 2003 as a way to encourage dentists to connect with their communities by providing dental services to underserved children.

These special events offer children and families the opportunity to learn about oral health, get questions answered and have fun. The events also help raise awareness about the important role of ongoing dental care. Tooth decay is the most common chronic illness among school-age children in California and is four times more common than childhood asthma, according to Children Now. By kindergarten, over 50 percent of children in California have already experienced dental decay and 28 percent have untreated decay. California students miss an estimated 874,000 days of school each year due to dental problems and children who reported having recent tooth pain were four times more likely to have a low grade point average.

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, pr@pacific.edu

Categories: Community Impact, Dental Services, Events, Oral Health, 2018

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, pr@pacific.edu