Thank you for being part of the KinderSmile Foundation village. We hope that you and your family are in good health. Your continued support has been truly appreciated! Throughout 2021, we have continued to safely treat our patients in our three Dental Homes of Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton, while complying with all recommended COVID-19 protocols. Our Dental Homes continue to increase access to oral health education and dental care for our State’s most underserved populations.
The City of Newark is designated as medically underserved by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, and 30% of families with children are living below the Federal Poverty Level, compared to 11% state wide. Over 19% of the population in Newark has no health insurance coverage.
KinderSmile Foundation was founded in the community and for the community. KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Newark was established in 2019, in partnership with the Dental Center at The Boys and Girls Club of Newark. Dr. Michael Gruber, DMD, BGCN Board member, had a vision to bring access to oral health care for the 300 BGCN members, leading to the establishment of a three-chair dental facility within the BGCN, supported by The Delta Dental of NJ Foundation, The MCJ Amelior Foundation, The Gagnon Foundation, and others. Dr. Gruber reached out to Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes, after hearing about the mission and vision of KinderSmile Foundation, and a beautiful partnership blossomed. This community partnership has enabled our program to expand and offer access to high quality preventive and comprehensive dental care and a link to a Dental Home to BGCN Members, as well as the surrounding community.
Isaac is a 5 year old boy who immigrated to the United States. His family applied to NJ FamilyCare and was denied due to immigration status. When Isaac came to our Dental Home, he had severe and rampant decay, requiring multiple caries restorations, extractions, pulpotomies, and stainless steel crowns. His extensive treatment plan included 14 of his 20 young teeth!
Isaac loves to smile, but he is often bullied by his friends due to discoloration of his teeth, attributed to extensive decay. Being uninsured and unable to afford dental care in the private sector, Isaac and his family came to the right place. Isaac now has an established link to a permanent Dental Home at KSCOHC Newark, and after the completion of his dental care, Isaac will have a beautiful, healthy smile for years to come!
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the health inequities that continue to plague the inner cities, underscoring socioeconomic and racial disparities in access to care. Black and Hispanic Americans have been affected at four times the rate of white Americans by COVID-19. The rise in unemployment had further disparaged these communities. Despite the increase in need and cost of PPE and infection control supplies due to this pandemic, we continue our mission of providing care to at-risk patients while providing a safe environment to our staff, volunteers, and community, without seeking any additional fees from our patients. #ItTakesAVillageKSF
