The Department of Dental Hygiene at Farmingdale State College will host its 10th Annual "Give Kids a Smile" event on Friday, February 2, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Children ages 1 – 17 and their parents are invited to visit the College's Dental Hygiene Care Center, in Gleeson Hall, to receive free oral screenings, dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral health education, provided by Farmingdale faculty and students.
A speech pathologist will be on hand, and students from the college's nursing program
will conduct blood pressure screenings for parents. Students and faculty from the
medical laboratory technology department will demonstrate proper hand-washing techniques
for all attendees.
The Give Kids a Smile event is free, but appointments are required. Call 934-420-2282.
Give Kids a Smile, sponsored nationally by the American Dental Association, was developed
to provide children access to preventive dental care. Approximately 200 children,
parents and volunteers are expected to attend. Local sponsors include Henry Schein,
Colgate, and Dexis.
In addition to welcoming children to the Dental Health Care Center, Farmingdale students
and faculty will provide free screenings at events at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
in Garden City on March 9 and the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead
on February 3. The Nassau County Dental Society and the Suffolk County Dental Society
host these events
The Dental Hygiene program at Farmingdale State College is part of the Theresa Patnode
Santmann School of Health Sciences, which enrolls nearly 700 students. The department
offers both the Associate in Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in dental
hygiene. The on-campus Dental Hygiene Care Center provides patients with comprehensive
care. All treatment provided at the center is supervised by registered dental hygienists
and dentists employed by Farmingdale State College.
