Children’s Dental Day is Feb. 2 and you can help

Some of the nearly 200 children attending have never been able to see a dentist.

Half of all Nebraska children have experienced dental decay and problems according to a state oral health assessment. Sadly, many of them cannot obtain needed care or have never seen a dentist.

Faculty and students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry know they can help these children by continuing to provide services to those most vulnerable through the annual Children’s Dental Day event being held on Friday, Feb. 2 at the college in Lincoln.

On that day about 175 children from seven communities will receive nearly $100,000 in free care that includes cleanings, extractions, fillings, root canals and crowns.

Those who would like to support this great annual program so children may receive dental care well into the future may designate a gift to the Dental Day Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Use this link to make a secure donation online now.

To mail a gift, please send a check made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation to Dental Day Fund, University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall Ste 300, Lincoln NE 68508-2886. Please include Dental Day Fund on your check’s memo. You will receive a gift receipt by mail, and all of your gift is used to support the efforts of the Dental Day programs.

Since 2001, the College of Dentistry has treated more than 6,000 children and provided services valued at more than $3 million to low income and underserved children in the state.

“We are so pleased to help the children in Nebraska with their dental needs, and I am extremely grateful to the faculty, staff and students for their roles in making this a positive experience for the kids,” said Dr. Janet Guthmiller, dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. “The care that is provided will likely infuse many more smiles into their communities.”

This year children from Crete, Columbus, Hastings, Grand Island, Fremont, Omaha and Lincoln are expected to attend. Some of these children will be seeing a dentist for the first time.

The annual event also provides information on the importance of oral health through a variety of educational games and activities for the children, their parents and chaperones.

All of the children participating in the event are identified and pre-screened in their communities by volunteers, including school nurses, members of faith-based organizations, Head Start, dentists and dental hygienists.

These volunteers donate their time to identify needy children, provide oral health screenings that indicate the type of care the children will need when they come to the college, and in many cases, begin with the children for emotional support and translation services.

The UNMC College of Dentistry needs and appreciates charitable gifts of all amounts to create and sustain excellence in comprehensive oral health education, research and patient care programs. For information about giving, contact Mr. Brook Jobes, director of development, at 402-458-1183 or [email protected].

You may explore opportunities to support the College of Dentistry at nufoundation.org/dentistry or contact Brook to learn about establishing your own fund.