Concorde Staff
Over 300 kids nationwide are smiling brighter, thanks to Concorde Career College鈥檚 National Children鈥檚 Dental Health Month initiative. Concorde hosted six events in California, Florida, and Texas, where kids aged 4-17 received no-cost dental services, including cleanings, x-rays, sealants and nutritional counseling. Additionally, campuses in Colorado and Missouri participated in their local Give Kids a Smile events.
鈥淭his initiative is deeply meaningful for the Concorde community. Starting preventive dental care early helps set children up for healthy lives. As we鈥檙e seeing in healthcare, oral health impacts overall health鈥攜et so many families face barriers with access to dental care. That鈥檚 why our students and faculty stepped up to offer no-cost services and raise awareness about this important health issue,鈥 said Kevin Prehn, president of 黑料社.
Prehn added: 鈥淢y heartfelt thanks to Heartland Dental, PDS Health, and Liberty Dental Plan who helped make the events possible through their sponsorships.鈥
All services were provided by Concorde鈥檚 dental hygiene students under the direct supervision of faculty and licensed dental professionals.
Families brought children from the surrounding communities of participating Concorde campuses, and area community organizations and schools helped promote the events. At some campuses, parents who brought their children also received dental cleanings.
鈥淧arents of small children often don鈥檛 make time for themselves to go to the dentist鈥攅ven more so if they face challenges with access to care. So, when they asked if they could be seen along with their kids, our students didn鈥檛 want to turn them away. I can鈥檛 put into words how happy those parents were to receive care鈥攁nd it made our day to help them,鈥 said Charmaine Idlett, dental hygiene program director, Concorde-Tampa.
Several media outlets in California, Florida and Texas provided news coverage of the initiative. Feature stories include:
Concorde鈥檚 commitment to providing community access to dental care goes beyond National Children鈥檚 Dental Health Month. At the 14 campuses that offer dental hygiene programs, Concorde operates Dental Hygiene Clinics, which are open to the public throughout the year. Clinic hours vary by location. For more information, visit: concorde.edu/about-us/services.
