08-02-2025
Monongalia County Health Department hosts ‘Give Kids a Smile' Day
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Friday was 'Give Kids a Smile' Day in Monongalia County, and throughout the day the health department held appointments for children without dental insurance.
'Give Kids a Smile' is an initiative by The American Dental Association on the first Friday in February every year. The ADA says cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States, and that children with poor oral health miss school more often and have lower grades.
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The Monongalia Health Department saw about 20 children over the course of the day, doing cleanings, fillings, fluoride treatments and x-rays . Dr. Youseph Kassar, Program Manager at MCHD Dentistry, told 12 News that it is important to instill the value of oral hygiene at a young age, and that events like today help children, who might not go to the dentist often, feel more comfortable.
'The earlier a patient or child can come to see us, the more comfortable they become with us, so they if see us for cleanings which are a little bit less stressful, it's a lot easier to get them to work with us and have some fun instead of they're coming with dental pain and that's their first experience with us,' Kassar said.
The Monongalia Health Department also typically offers free check ups to uninsured adults the day before Thanksgiving as well as for veterans on Veterans Day.
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