Dental disease is the #1 disease affecting children in the State. About 30% of Utah’s children have untreated tooth decay which causes chronic pain, infections, poor social relationships, malnutrition, and problems in speaking and learning. These are children in your own community that you know.
We are helping to solve that problem. On Feb 28, 2010, in just 5 hours, Utah Give Kids a Smile donated over $250,000 of free dental treatment to needy children without access to dental care. In addition, 178 vouchers were donated from dentists across the state to be distributed to under served children. We have accomplished a lot but still more is needed.
To download Utah Give Kids a Smile 2010 Statistics report click here
BACKGROUND
Utah Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) is a subsidiary program of the national American Dental Association’s (ADA) Give Kids a Smile and of the Utah Dental Association (UDA). The ADA’s program allows each participating state and organization to customize their efforts to best match their local area’s needs and resources. The Utah GKAS organization has been treating children since February 2005 and participates by holding an annual event each February with a follow up voucher system.
INVOLVEMENT
The Utah GKAS organization conducts an efficient and unique program for the State. Every February an event is held where financially prescreened children from Title 1 (low income) schools come to an event location to receive free dental treatment. In addition to the event, Utah GKAS collects donated dental vouchers from participating dentists across the state who agree to treat children in their own practice for free. These vouchers are then used to perform follow-up treatment for patients of the event and the excess vouchers are distributed to charity organizations throughout the state for distribution. Utah GKAS operates conjointly with the UDA and the local dental district in which the events take place, creating a partnership which helps to ensure the longevity of the organization and events.
Utah Give Kids a Smile is a registered 501C3 nonprofit organization.
