MISSION STATEMENT
 The mission of the KinderSmile Foundation (KSF) is to advocate for an increase in optimal oral care access and oral health education for children in underserved communities.
GOAL
The goal of the KinderSmile Foundation is to implement an oral health program in pre-school facilities located in underserved communities, including Headstart programs.
STATISTICS
In 2006, 55% of children ages 2 to 4, 22% of children ages 5 to 11, and 19% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 had not seen a dentist in the previous year.
2 out of every 5 children ages 2 to 12 years needed dental care, but did not receive it for economic reasons.
Our nation's youngest residents, children ages 2 through 5, experienced a 15.2% increase in oral disease over the past 5 years.
 The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that more than four million children are afflicted by dental disease nationwide, an increase of over 600,000 preschoolers over a decade.
Children in poverty were more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities as their higher-income peers (33% vs. 13%). Decay severity was more than twice as great for poor children. Low-income children in the United States face greater odds of having tooth decay, enduring more serious problems with dental caries, and simply living with untreated cavities.
Only 1% of Medicaid's total expenditure is for dental care!
Low provider-reimbursement rates have reduced access to dental care for Medicaid recipients.
The majority of pediatric dentists who treat Medicaid children keep them to less than 10% of their total practice. This is done by refusing to accept new Medicaid patients.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The KinderSmile Foundation is a non-profit corporation, dedicated to "Giving Kids a Dental Head Start in our Community". With proper access to preventive services, oral health education, and regular oral health exams, we can reduce dental decay in school-aged children by 90%. We can raise healthier, happier and more successful boys and girls. Let's join together to give our Kids a Dental Head Start in Our Community!
KSF WILL PROVIDE:
FREE DENTAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN
* Oral examinations with Fluoride treatment will be provided to children on school premises
* A dental home will be established for all children with State Insurance (Medicaid)
* Free dental services will be provided for children without a Dental Home
FREE ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION
* Tools to increase oral health awareness in the community
* Teachers, parents and caregivers will attend a semi-annual oral health workshop to learn how to prevent oral disease in children
* Teachers will be given in-class oral health curriculum to teach children basic preventive tools
A DENTAL HOTLINE FOR EMERGENCY CALLS
* Advice to families in emergency circumstances
* Information for parents who want to enroll in Charity Care and Medicaid
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMS
* Will offer school age and college students an opportunity to learn about the growing dental disparities that affect underserved preschool children in their community
* Will allow the students to a 'hands-on' experience in the field of Dentistry and Community Service
* Will allow students to learn civic responsibility and develop meaningful leadership and workplace skills
KSF FUTURE SERVICE:
A DENTAL MOBILE UNIT
* Preventive dentistry for children in rural areas
For More Information, Visit These Websites:
National Children's Oral Health Foundation
www.ncohf.org/oraleducation.php, "Oral Health Education"
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
www.aapd.org, then click "Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children"
Delta Dental Foundation
www.deltadental.com, then click "Oral Health and Wellness"
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