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WVU Brightens Kids Smiles: Dental School Hosts Day of Free Oral Health Appointments

Posted on: Saturday, 4 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

Feb. 4--Seventy-five children, ages 3-17 kept appointments with pediatric dentists Friday at the WVU School of Dentistry. The free appointments were part of the "Give Kids a Smile!" national dentalaccess program of the American Dental Association and the West Virginia Dental Association. February is National Children's Dental Health Month and the WVU School of Dentistry offered the free examinations and oral health care education to kids. The U.S. Surgeon General's report on Oral Health states that nearly 1 in 6 children over the age of 5 has a cavity. By age 17, nearly 8 in 10 have dental decay. The numbers in West Virginia are more acute, according to a survey, WVU reported, and more than one-third of adults have lost six or more teeth as a result of decay or gum disease. A 1997-98 survey revealed that 68 percent of children in West Virginia had tooth decay by the age of 8, WVU said. "These numbers are of concern to us," said Dr. James J. Koelbl, dean of WVU School of Dentistry. "Which is one of the reasons we want to educate children and their parents on the importance of good oral health care. We are pleased to be a part of this effort." The free appointment day is an annual event for WVU School of Dentistry.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Dominion Post (Morgantown, W.Va.)

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