(Feb. 4, 2009) More than 4,000 uninsured children from low-income families in Colorado will receive free dental treatment and education from approximately 850 Colorado Dental Association dentists, hygienists and dental assistants as well as University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine dental students.

Give Kids a Smile Day, a statewide and nationwide event to provide FREE dental services to uninsured, underserved children who desperately need dental attention, but cannot afford dental care, will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, all across the state. However, the largest event will be in Aurora at the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Imagine having a mouthful of toothaches and no place to go for help. This is the situation for nearly half of all children, ages 2-9, suffering from untreated tooth decay. In Colorado, only 42.6 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid received any dental services in 2005. 

Give Kids a Smile Day is held annually to:

• Provide free dental services to local, uninsured children who would otherwise not receive dental care.
• Raise awareness of the epidemic of untreated dental disease occurring in Colorado and across the country among low-income populations.

At the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine,  more than 40 dental chairs will be in use at the same time throughout the day. This means more than 250 children from Colorado families without insurance will be given free dental care.