Smiles for Kids Day
Overview
Smiles for Kids Day was held February 2, 2013. This event started in 1991 and was adopted in 2003 by the Sacramento District Dental Foundation. This event has enlisted a number of dentists, hygienists, assistants and volunteer staff to help screen and provide free treatment to children in underprivileged communities such as Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties (Sacramento District Dental Foundation, 2013). The foundation is ran solely by contribution, grants, donations and fundraising events. It is the goal of the foundation to reach out and give charity through oral health education, treatment and services. Foundation membership is open to any in the dental field and all donations are welcome.
Smiles for Kids Day is held at various locations ranging from private dental offices to dental hygiene and dental schools. This event brings in hundreds of children. While many are screened and treated, others are "adopted" into a private clinic to receive further treatment. The total value of dental treatment performed from all the volunteers reach almost one million dollars (Sacramento district Dental Foundation, 2013).
Smiles for Kids Day is held at various locations ranging from private dental offices to dental hygiene and dental schools. This event brings in hundreds of children. While many are screened and treated, others are "adopted" into a private clinic to receive further treatment. The total value of dental treatment performed from all the volunteers reach almost one million dollars (Sacramento district Dental Foundation, 2013).
Smiles For Kids Carrington College of Sacramento, Dental Hygiene Department
The dental hygiene department consisting of hygiene students, hygienists and staff were able to provide many services such as oral health screenings, oral health education, radiographs, prophylaxis and preventive sealants and fluoride treatment. The event ran from 8 am to around 12:30 pm. The children we saw ranged from 3 years old to teenagers. I myself volunteered in the clinic providing prophylaxis and fluoride treatment for the children. Different stations were set up to perform radiographs, oral health education and prophylactic treatment and screening. Both Junior and senior dental hygiene students worked together to usher in children into the first station, which was taking radiographs. After successful completion in the radiology room, children were taken to the oral health education room where children were given demonstrations on proper tooth brushing techniques. They were also instructed about how cavities can form on teeth because of sugar and how brushing teeth is a good activity. Next, junior volunteers directed the children and their parents to the clinic where the children were given an oral health screening as well as prophylaxis, polishing and fluoride treatment. Children and teens who needed longer appointments such as for a more thorough prophylaxis, were adopted into the dental hygiene clinic to be patients for the dental hygiene students. After the clinic, the children who needed restorative or extraction treatment were directed to the dental assisting clinic, where volunteer dentists offered dental treatment. Some children also needed dental sealants, which the senior volunteers gladly provided, before applying fluoride treatment. Overall the event was a success and we were able to see many children.
Personal Reflection
The last time I volunteered for an oral health event was years ago in the Philippines. Now, being able to volunteer again has been such a great experience, and something I look forward to continuing as a registered dental hygienist. Even before this event, I knew that I wanted to give back to the community utilizing the skills I knew I was good at. By volunteering in the clinic I learned that in a private setting, one has to pick up the pace and be able to incorporate efficiently the health history and oral health screening thoroughly. Being in the clinic for school, everything is step by steps and a lot of time is devoted in performing all the steps. In Smiles for Kids there is only a limited number of time that is allotted for each child. It was great that our instructors were there to help us finish the children. Our instructors showed us how to look and work around each teeth swiftly by deplaquing and removing calculus. It was a great learning experience for my future work as an RDH because I utilized very little instruments and really focused on the universal and sickle instruments. In addition we were able to screen for abscesses or loose teeth and really recognize children in need of further care.
I also learned that children all have different personalities and some are either really excited about being there, while some where a little apprehensive. I realized that programs such as this really help low income families because there were some children there who hadn't had a cleaning for a long time. There were some teenagers who had their first cleaning there with us. I felt that for these children and teens I had to establish a rapport with them so that they trust me and understand what it is I was trying to do. Other younger children also needed more extensive restorative work because of the lack of proper dental care and oral home health. As a future RDH I want to be able to not only work in various volunteer settings locally, but internationally as well. This event gave me my first state of volunteering locally and I believe that it was very refreshing, and refueled my passion to continue helping the community through dental care and providing services to those who would otherwise not be able to access care. In addition I was thrilled to be a part of an activity that the local chapter and foundation participates in. It helped me get to know, other hygienists and made me realize how active a member I want to be when I become an RDH. Overall the experience was very satisfying and I felt that I made a small difference in a child and provided a good service. I believe that it was a very good use of my time and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I look forward to the next chance to partcipate in events such as this again not only in Sacramento but hopefully in the Bay Area as well.
I also learned that children all have different personalities and some are either really excited about being there, while some where a little apprehensive. I realized that programs such as this really help low income families because there were some children there who hadn't had a cleaning for a long time. There were some teenagers who had their first cleaning there with us. I felt that for these children and teens I had to establish a rapport with them so that they trust me and understand what it is I was trying to do. Other younger children also needed more extensive restorative work because of the lack of proper dental care and oral home health. As a future RDH I want to be able to not only work in various volunteer settings locally, but internationally as well. This event gave me my first state of volunteering locally and I believe that it was very refreshing, and refueled my passion to continue helping the community through dental care and providing services to those who would otherwise not be able to access care. In addition I was thrilled to be a part of an activity that the local chapter and foundation participates in. It helped me get to know, other hygienists and made me realize how active a member I want to be when I become an RDH. Overall the experience was very satisfying and I felt that I made a small difference in a child and provided a good service. I believe that it was a very good use of my time and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I look forward to the next chance to partcipate in events such as this again not only in Sacramento but hopefully in the Bay Area as well.
Additional Sources
References
1. Sacramento District Dental Foundation. Smiles for Kids Day, 2013. Retrieved on April 5, 2013 from http://www.sdds.org /SmilesforKids.htm
Google Image:
Husky Children's Dental, Fairfield. Retrieved April 5, 2013 from http://www.1305dental.com/ChildrensHusky.aspx
Google Image:
Husky Children's Dental, Fairfield. Retrieved April 5, 2013 from http://www.1305dental.com/ChildrensHusky.aspx