Published: March 31, 2008 08:54 pm         

Nothing as vital

Free dental care for kids is as important as it gets

West Virginia is, and has been, in a health care crisis of mammoth proportions for a long time.

While your immediate thinking might conjure up images of obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes — all very serious health issues —none of those can likely match the widespread trouble created by inadequate oral hygiene and dental care.

Proper dental health is critical, not only for appearance, but for the general health of one’s body. Oftentimes the demise of countless individuals can be attributed to troubles which started in the mouth.

At least for our younger generation, something is now going to be done to try to stem the tide of dental nightmares in our state.

Dr. Ed Eckley, chairman of the New River Dental Society, has been on a mission to recruit area dentists who will provide free screenings for children ages 5 to 18 this Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Elinor Hurt Memorial Health Center on Harper Road.

The exams are available to kids who aren’t already receiving regular dental care and those who do not qualify for dental care under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid.

We suspect that number is way into the hundreds and while we can tell you about it, it’s really up to those who know these children the best — parents, teachers, school nurses, after-school care providers — to get involved and make certain these kids get there on Friday.

After the Friday assessments are completed, appointments will be made in dental offices for these youths to get the oral treatment they need —free of charge.

Nothing along the lines of gratis dental care has come along before that has the ability to make such a significant, positive difference. Lives and futures can and will be changed, for the better, forever.

Give Kids A Smile really is giving back to our community in a huge way. This is the first year for it in Raleigh County and we strongly support the effort and sincerely hope it grows exponentially in the numbers of both participating providers and needy adolescent recipients during the years ahead.

And it also provides a flicker of hope for a similar program for adults.