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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
NSU College of Dental Medicine Celebrates Gives Kids a Smile Day
: Nova Southeastern University dental students provide pro bono dental services for a child as part of Give Kids a Smile Day
Approximately 325 children were given a reason to smile thanks to volunteer dental students and faculty at Nova Southeastern University (NSU).
Nearly 300 volunteers from the NSU College of Dental Medicine provided limited pro bono dental services valued at more than $100,000 to South Florida children ages 2-18 on Saturday, March 8 as part of Give Kids a Smile Day.
In addition, the more than 1,000 attendees, including the children and their family members, enjoyed a fun carnival atmosphere with Miami Dolphins player Marcus Thigpen and cheerleaders, face painters, a clown, magicians, music, and “Timmy the Tooth”.
“Community service is one of NSU’s core values and we are dedicated to working with our partners to help children and their parents in South Florida and beyond understand the importance of oral health,” said Amanda Buscemi, D.M.D., NSU’s chief pediatric dental resident and Give Kids a Smile program director. “If we can make a difference in a child’s life, we have accomplished our goal.”
Give Kids a Smile events take place annually throughout the United States as part of an initiative started by the American Dental Association to improve access to dental care for children.
“What makes the NSU College of Dental Medicine’s program unique is that it is entirely student organized and run,” said Linda Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., dean of the NSU College of Dental Medicine. “This program truly demonstrates our dental students’ commitment to community service.”
NSU faculty members donate their time to this community service event and supervise dental students in this worthwhile project. Sponsors include Henry Schein, American Student Dental Association, and NSU College of Dental Medicine’s Student Government Association.
The U.S. Surgeon General reports that children miss more than 51 million school hours each year to dental-related illness. The Pew Children’s Dental Campaign describes dental care as “the single greatest unmet need for health services among children” in its latest report.
More than 1,000 attendees at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine’s Give Kids a Smile Day enjoyed a fun carnival atmosphere with Miami Dolphins player Marcus Thigpen and cheerleaders, face painters, a clown, magicians, music, and “Timmy the Tooth”.