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A reason to smile at school
The program provides students dental care they might not otherwise receive.
YOUNGSTOWN — Open wide.
That’s exactly what some 65 Youngstown City School District students at Choffin Career and Technical Center did Friday when they received free dental exams, X-rays and cleanings through the American Dental Association’s Ohio Give Kids A Smile program.
Members of the Corydon Palmer Dental Society, an affiliate of the Ohio ADA serving Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, along with area dental hygienists, volunteered their time and skills for the program.
Also, students from the Choffin School of Accredited Dental Assisting adult program, located at Choffin on East Wood Street, volunteered their services for the program, which also was a training opportunity for them.
Ohio Give Kids A Smile is associated with the ADA’s national Give Kids A Smile program started in 2003.
Also participating in the program in East Liverpool under the auspices of the Corydon Palmer Dental Society were Dr. Jeffrey S. Caldwell and other volunteers.
Give Kids A Smile provides students dental examinations they might not otherwise receive, said Dr. Steven Watts of Howland, coordinator of the local program since its inception eight years ago.
The patients all leave with a slip identifying the work they need and where they can go for service, said Dr. Watts, who is in private practice in Howland and is instructor at the Choffin Dental Assisting program.
Paula Oliver, director of the dental-assisting program, said it is one of three in Ohio that are accredited by the ADA. Graduates of the nine-month program can take X-rays and impressions, remove sutures and polish teeth, but they cannot clean or scrape teeth, she said.
Brittany Hurst of Bazetta Township and Nicole Costello of Boardman, dental-assisting program students, said they enjoyed the experience of helping the community and the children.
Hurst, 19, is a 2009 graduate of Mathews High School in Vienna.
Costello, 32, came to Choffin after losing her job of 10 years at Lear Corp. in Lordstown. She plans to enroll in the dental-hygiene program at Youngstown State University after she graduates from the Choffin program.
Dr. Paul Bertolasio of Liberty said having three children of his own made him realize that kids need help and “you have to help them.”
“Actually, it’s like a vacation to get out of the office for a day,” said the Girard dentist, who is in his fourth year with the Smiles for Kids program.
In his first year volunteering, Dr. Lee Snelson of Howland said the program is one way the dental society gives back to the community.
“We’re proud to be able to offer it locally,” said Dr. Snelson, who is in practice with his father in Warren.
alcorn@vindy.com