Jennifer Diakunczak of Edison, left, and the Tooth Fairy, otherwise known as Christine Etter of Old Bridge, teach Aman Mitra of Metuchen the proper way to brush during Middlesex County College’s Give Kids a Smile program Feb. 7, which offered free dental care for more than 50 children in the area. PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS PETERSON EDISON — In this tough economy, household budget cuts must be made, and dental insurance is often one of the first things to go.
“Most people are happy to just have medical [insurance],” said Lynn Tobin, adjunct faculty member in Middlesex County College (MCC)’s Dental Hygiene program.
That is why the Give Kids a Smile program is helpful to children who are unable to get to a dentist on a regular basis.
MCC was among a handful of local public and private locations to participate in the program, which was held throughout the country on Feb. 7.
Under the direction of the New Jersey Dental Association, the public- and private sector dental communities come together every February to ensure the delivery of care to thousands of children who otherwise may be unable to access care.
MCC is in its 10th year of hosting the event, which brings together volunteers from all aspects of dentistry.
Students from the college’s two-year Dental Hygiene program assisted dental hygienists and dentists — including four pediatric dentists, two general dentists and an orthodontist — as they treated the children. This year’s event saw some 50 children, from toddlers to 12-year-olds.
“Some of these kids are coming to the dentist for the very first time,” Tobin said, adding that the volunteers try to make the visit as enjoyable as possible.
One of the students was dressed as the Tooth Fairy, “floating” around and putting smiles on the kids’ faces.
Involved in the examination are X-rays, cleaning, filings, extractions, fluoride treatments and stainless steel crowns. The doctors bring their own equipment, according to Catherine Reilly, associate professor in the Dental Hygiene program.
Tobin said baby root canals could be done during the day; however, some doctors offer their services after the day if more work is needed.
The children leave the visit with Xrays of their teeth, an education on caring for their teeth and a bag filled with dental goodies.
Dr. C. Robert Montgomery Jr., a dentist located in Freehold, said he has been volunteering in the program at the college for eight years.
“From what I have been seeing, it has been getting easier, and I think we are making some headway in what we are trying to do here,” he said.
Montgomery said the first few years were difficult.
“We were seeing children with as many as 20 cavities,” he said.
Julissa Salgado of Sayreville brought her 5-year-old son Matt to the program. She said she heard about the program through a cousin, who was a student at the college. “I think it’s a great program that not too many people know about,” she said. Her son said the dental hygienists “tickled his teeth” clean and gave him a bag filled with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
“It was fun,” he said with a smile.
Tobin noted that the
MCC Dental Hygiene
Clinic, which has been existence since 1972, offers a complete dental screening for anyone. For more information, call 732-906- 2536.