‘ELE‘ELE — Dr. Leila Nitta, principal of ‘Ele‘ele School, was thankful her school was selected to benefit from this year’s Give Kids a Smile Day program, Thursday. More than 400 students received dental care packages and a free dental screening
‘ELE‘ELE — Dr. Leila Nitta, principal of ‘Ele‘ele School, was thankful her school was selected to benefit from this year’s Give Kids a Smile Day program, Thursday.
More than 400 students received dental care packages and a free dental screening from five Kaua‘i dentists who contributed their time to work with the students in providing the dental screenings.
Dr. Lisa Hirano, coordinating the Kaua‘i effort, also took a hands-on role, prefacing the screenings with a presentation on the importance of students taking care of their teeth.
“We were lucky that ‘Ele‘ele School was selected because there are parents who don’t necessarily spend money on dental care,” Nitta said. “Sometimes it comes down to choosing between having to feed the family or having dental work done.”
Give Kids a Smile Day is a national initiative by the American Dental Association, states a release from the Hawai‘i Dental Association’s Dental Samaritans.
It is held the first Friday in February, in conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month. Give Kids a Smile Day provides free oral health education, screening and treatment services to children from low-income families across the country.
Hirano said this is the fourth year the program is being held on Kaua‘i, and in previous events, dentists have visited Koloa and Kekaha schools.
“We are lucky Misty Tsukayama did such a good job in getting responses from the students,” Hirano said. “The students receive a dental care package containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss as well as fun educational materials. Kaua‘i dentists perform a free dental screening and make recommendations on treatment, if needed. The packages were donated by Henry Schein Corporation and Patterson Hawai‘i.”
Nitta said these recommendations may be the motivation parents need to have their child’s dental needs addressed.
“Normally, it’s on a Friday, but this is a Furlough Friday so the program was pushed back to Thursday,” Hirano said.
Apo said Give Kids a Smile Day is a great program that makes a tremendous difference in the lives of students.
“Education is such an integral part of being healthy,” said Russell Masunaga, director of the Dental Samaritans. “Teaching kids how to properly care for themselves is a lesson that will last a lifetime.”
Dentists Scott Shimabukuro, Shane Satta, Alan Ing, Antolin Apalla Jr., Lisa Hirano and Timmy Hirano participated in the ‘Ele‘ele School event.
The Hawai‘i Dental Association Dental Samaritans was established in 2001 to create a clearinghouse of dental expertise to help Hawai‘i’s underserved communities achieve improved oral health.
Since 2001, the Dental Samaritans have initiated numerous oral health awareness events such as the nationwide “Give Kids a Smile Day” and the “Hawai‘i Give Kupuna a Smile Day.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
