What a Smile!

Gloria, an 8 y.o. girl from Bridgeport, had never seen a dentist.  Her mouth hurt and her mother heard about ORBIT’s Give Kids A Smile Program.   Thanks to the generosity of 63 dentists in the greater Bridgeport region, Gloria was one of 452 children who is now able to SMILE and be happy!   Funding to coordinate this program ends today, and donations are needed so we can keep children like Gloria from missing school due to tooth pain, and improving their self-esteem because they have a bright, and shining smile!   Please consider making a donation today – just click on the DONATE NOW button on the website!  Have a Happy New Year!

What better way to say goodbye to summer, and usher in the fall season, than with Southwestern AHEC’s Lobster Clambake? Enjoy delicious food, good music, and great company, while helping us continue to help others. All the proceeds are to benefit Southwestern AHEC, and the Give Kids A Smile^® Program in Greater Bridgeport.

Click on the link!

ORBIT Stars invitation-1 pg-FINAL

Give Kids A Smile is the American Dental Association-endorsed, annual volunteer initiative to provide free dental care to children in need.  Dentists and dental hygienists from the Bridgeport Dental Association (BDA) volunteer their services, so that children with no dental insurance can receive both preventive care and treatment for oral health problems.

2010 will be the 4th year that Southwestern AHEC and the BDA have partnered to conduct Give Kids A Smile.  In February 2009, donated dental services valued at more than $139,000 were provided by 48 dentists to 323 children.  More than 50 dentists have already signed up to participate in February 2010.

For information, contact Oral Health Care Coordinator Vani Anand at (203) 372-5503 ext 12.

Young patient receives free care during Give Kids A Smile day 2009

Oral Health Bridgeport Initiative (ORBIT) urges area dentists to volunteer their services to make a real difference in the lives of children in need. Dentists can volunteer on February 5^th or on any other day in February that is convenient for them. Dentists can also choose how many children they will see and the types of services they or their hygienists will provide.

For the past three years in a row, ORBIT has successfully organized Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS), the American Dental Association – endorsed, annual, volunteer initiative, when caring dentists nation-wide donate dental services to low-income children, without access to care. For GKAS 2009, ORBIT coordinated the identification of 444 needy children from Bridgeport and Stratford, and the delivery of dental care valued at over $150,000, donated by 52 dentists belonging to the Bridgeport Dental Association.

The Connecticut State Dental Association has recognized ORBIT’s program as the most successful GKAS initiative in Connecticut and has appointed Vani Anand, ORBIT’s Oral Health Care Coordinator as a consultant to its state-wide GKAS Steering Committee. As a result, Southwestern AHEC is developing a GKAS CT Toolkit, so that ORBIT’s successful strategies can be implemented in other parts of the state. Local dental societies of Stamford and New Haven have approached ORBIT to help implement GKAS in their communities.

Dentists wishing to participate in GKAS 2010 are requested to contact Vani Anand, MPH, CHES, ORBIT’s Oral Health Care Coordinator at (203) 372-5503 X12. They can also receive more information about GKAS 2010 from Dr. Brian Amoroso, President of the BDA, at (203) 333-3636 or from Dr. Salvatore Pizzino, BDA’s GKAS Chairman, at (203) 255-5142.

Vani will follow up with identifying and scheduling kids for the dates and times dentists make available for care. ORBIT also solicits donations to help provide free transportation for children with out-of-town dental appointments, and no means of transportation. For those wishing to make a donation, please make your check payable to Southwestern AHEC, Inc. (fiduciary agent for ORBIT), and mail to: Southwestern AHEC, 5520 Park Avenue, Suite 109, Trumbull, CT 06611. Donations are tax deductible.