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Over 220 children nationwide are smiling brighter, thanks to �鶹��ý Career College’s National Children’s Dental Health Month initiative. �鶹��ý hosted six¹ events in Colorado, Florida, Oregon and Texas, where kids aged 4-17 received no-cost dental services, including cleanings, x-rays, sealants and nutritional counseling.

“We look forward to our Making Smiles pediatric dental events each year. The events provide real-world experience for our students as part of their learning experience, and a meaningful way to give back to their communities. My heartfelt thanks to Aspen Dental and PDS Health who helped make the events possible through their sponsorships,” said Kevin Prehn, President of �鶹��ý.

According to the CDC, about  due to emergency dental care. While tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry underscores in their  that it’s largely preventable with early and regular dental care. 

“As both a public health advocate and educator, I understand the importance of early prevention in reducing oral health disparities. Making Portland Smile helped extend those efforts by providing children in our community with access to essential care and education while supporting our dental hygiene students in their clinical learning experiences,” said Sheba Jones, Dental Hygiene Program Director at �鶹��ý-Portland.

All services were provided by �鶹��ý’s dental hygiene students under the direct supervision of faculty and licensed dental professionals. Families brought children from the surrounding communities to participating �鶹��ý campuses, and area community organizations helped promote the events. 

Several media outlets in Florida, Oregon and Texas provided news coverage of the initiative. A few highlights include:

�鶹��ý’s commitment to providing community access to dental care goes beyond National Children’s Dental Health Month. At 14 of the campuses that offer dental hygiene programs, �鶹��ý 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.

¹Seven events were originally scheduled. Due to a severe winter storm, the Memphis event was cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date.