Press Release
Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
Phone: 973-972-5000
dinesdk@umdnj.edu
Free Children’s Dental Program Statewide
Friday, February 3 – Media Invited to Cover
NEWARK, NJ (2/2/06)— In celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is collaborating with the New Jersey Dental Association to offer one day of free preventive and emergency oral health services to children under age 12 on Friday, February 3. During the Fourth Annual Give Kids A Smile Day, six UMDNJ health care sites will offer services in Newark, Scotch Plains, Galloway Township, Haddon Heights, Somerdale, and Northfield.
Members of the media are invited to visit one of UMDNJ’s six sites throughout the state between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, February 3.
The American Dental Association (ADA) established the national Give Kids A Smile initiative to ensure access to quality care for all children in America, regardless of their social or financial status, and to educate children about the lifelong benefits of proper oral hygiene and health care. More than 3,000 children are scheduled for treatment and screenings at more than 70 sites throughout New Jersey.
Administrators at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School in Newark are expected to treat approximately 1,000 children, making this the largest site in the state. In order to provide children with a memorable experience, the patient waiting area at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School is being transformed into a play zone. Children who are waiting for treatment will have an opportunity to interact with clowns, learn about proper oral health hygiene habits, play games and receive toothbrushes prior to receiving oral examinations, fillings, extractions, and teeth cleanings.
Dentists, dental students, dental hygienists, and dental assistants from UMDNJ are among the more than 850 dental health professionals and students statewide who will volunteer during this national effort.
The following UMDNJ sites will offer pediatric dental care between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.For more information about covering this event, please call Kaylyn Dines at 973-972-5000.
- UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School
110 Bergen Street , Newark
- UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions
Allied Dental Education, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains
- University Dental Center at Galloway
4 East Jimmy Leeds Road, Suite 6 , Galloway Twp.
- University Dental Center at Haddon Heights
506 White Horse Pike East (Route 30), Haddon Heights
- University John H. Cronin Dental Center at Northfield
235 Dolphin Avenue , Northfield
- University Dental Center at Somerdale Square
13 Somerdale Square , Somerdale
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.
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