MINNEAPOLIS, January 11, 2022 / PRNewswire / – Minnesota dentists provide free dental care to children in need on February 4 and 5, 2022. Appointments can be made now. the Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) has nearly 1,000 volunteer dental professionals in more than 50 clinics across the state to Give children a smile.
Finding a clinic with open appointments is as easy as calling United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or visiting mndental.org. Appointments can then be made directly with the dental office. No eligibility question is asked, in an effort to remove any possible barriers to care.
Patients must be 18 years of age or younger and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The specific services provided at each location will be described when making an appointment. Multilingual speaking volunteers are also available in many locations to help overcome language barriers.
Among the challenges:
- Tooth decay is one of the most chronic diseases of children and adolescents
- Nearly one in five children aged 5 to 11 has untreated decay in their baby teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- well over half of Minnesota children enrolled in Medicaid have not received dental services in the past year – the situation being made worse by Minnesota one of the lowest in the country for reimbursement of the cost of government dental programs
During this time of COVID-19, additional precautions and safeguards are in place at clinics participating in Give Kids a Smile. Dental clinics continue to follow CDC recommended guidelines and protocols to ensure appointment safety.
Minnesota dentists have provided free care to over 81,000 children and provided services valued at over $ 24 million since 2003.
For more information on the Minnesota Dental Association‘s Give Kids a Smile, visit mndental.org.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing more than 70 percent of practicing dentists. He is committed to upholding the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can find out more about www.mndental.org.
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Minnesota Dental Association
