Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Rojeena Kayastha The MSU dental hygeine students offered free cleanings, x-rays, exams and sealants to local children as part of the "Give Kids A Smile" program.

Dentist chairs litter the basement of Morris Hall, each filled with children, their legs not quite reaching the ends of the seats. Standing along the edges of the room and bent over the chairs, peering into patient's mouths, are Minnesota State dental hygiene students.

The MSU Dental Education Department and other local dental professionals joined together in an effort to provide free dental care to area children Thursday and Friday as part of the "Give Kids A Smile" program. The school offered free cleanings, X-rays, exams and sealants.

"It's a community service," said Nancy Geistfeld, a dental hygiene professor. "We use community dental hygienists, dentists, dental assistants and students."

According to its website, "Give Kids A Smile" is a St. Louis-based organization started in 2000 by a few community dental professionals in an effort to give disadvantaged children dental care. The American Dental Association adopted the idea and created a national clinic day each year in February.

In their fifth year participating in the program, Geistfeld said it offers a good opportunity for the students and the community as MSU students rarely work with children since many of the clinics they participate in are at night.

"It's good for families because we can see them all at the same time," Geistfeld said.

There are other benefits as well.

"It's nice to help people in any way. No matter how big or small it is," said Kelly Stadtherr, a senior dental hygiene major. "You're making an impact on someone's life."

Geistfeld said over the course of two days the school would see about 100 patients.

"I was a little overwhelmed," said Nicole Decourcy, a junior dental hygiene major. "It was a really good experience working with little kids since we usually just work with each other."

Decourcy said the event gave her experience with children to see how they cooperate, since they're not used to sitting in a chair for long periods of time and she had to remember to speak less scientific to them.

The additional practice should serve dental students well, because for the first time more are getting hands-on experience.

"This is the first year we've had junior and senior students see patients," said Lisa Fleck, a dental hygiene professor.

To help dental students fulfill their requirements, the school gave juniors permission to see patients who came into the clinic instead of having their roommates or family play the role of patient. This new rule allows juniors to work on harder patients, which can assist them when they need to pass their boards.

"You're working on more difficult patients. And instead of learning things, you're doing them over and over again," said Stadtherr.

The endeavor to help does not go unnoticed in Mankato or nationally, as more volunteers sign up for the "Give Kids A Smile" program and MSU students become more confident in their trade.

"It's the best way for volunteers to helps children who would otherwise not be seen," Fleck explained. "It makes you happy to see these kids who really need the care be taken care of."


Leah Christensen is a Reporter staff writer

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