Director, Dr. Poonam Jain
The Community & Preventive
Dentistry community outreach program
continues to improve access to quality oral health for over
8,000 men, women, and children annually through educational
programs, oral cancer screenings and/or oral health
treatments.
The spring semester is always a blur of activity for the Community & Preventive Dentistry program. In February, the School of Dental Medicine actively participates in National Children’s Dental Health Month, a program which brings hundreds of children on campus to receive free dental care. As the program proceeds in April, the School of Dental Medicine participates in the March of Dimes Walk America, diligently pursuing volunteers and donations from the campus community. During the month of May, the School of Dental Medicine facilitates Special Olympics Special Smiles, offering oral health screenings for all Special Olympics Illinois athletes participating in the Southwestern/Area 12 Spring Games.
Also
during spring semester, the School of Dental
Medicine’s Year I students begin their clinical
experiences as part of Community Dentistry II, a course in
which the students perform preventive procedures on children at
the M and M dental clinic in Litchfield and in a school sealant
grant program at Prather Elementary School in Granite
City.
Further, every year, students and faculty participate in ten or more additional community events, including Illinois State Dental Society sponsored oral cancer screenings at the Illinois State Fair and the Central Illinois Senior Celebration, as well as a number of other health fairs and school presentations.
Perhaps
the highlight of the Community Outreach program is the
annual “Give Kids A Smile Day” in February.
“Give Kids A Smile Day” is a one-day event
organized to provide free dental treatment for underserved
children. Each year, “Give Kids A Smile Day”
treats hundreds of area children, providing thousands of
dollars worth of free dental treatment, including examinations,
x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings and
extractions.