Lt. Governor Quinn marks 5th annual Healthy Smiles Week in Illinois

Link: http://www.standingupforillinois.org/feature.php?id=1792

CHICAGO - October 9, 2008. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn marked the 5th Annual "Healthy Smiles Week" - an oral health education week that highlights free or reduced-cost dental services available to uninsured children - at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

"It is important that residents, especially children, maintain proper dental hygiene," Quinn said.  "Tooth decay is the number one chronic illness in children and the leading cause of school absences."

Kindergarten through sixth-grade students from St. Malachy School on the West Side of Chicago received free dental screenings from University of Illinois at Chicago School of Dentistry.  More than 100 students were serviced. 

Illinois requires every public and private school student entering Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade receive a dental exam.  Quinn's leadership helped pass the initiative in an effort to increase awareness of oral health needs for Illinois children. 

The policy requires every child to have a dental screening in the same way as a health exam.  Students have to show proof of certain immunizations and tests, including a confirmed dental exam upon starting the school year.   

Quinn was joined by State Representative Dr. David Miller (D-29th) and representatives from UIC: Dr. Eric Gislason, Interim Chancellor; Dr. Bruce Graham, Dean of the College of Dentistry; and Dr. Indru Punwani, Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.  Dr. Laura Neumann, Senior Vice President of Education/Professional Affairs for the American Dental Association; Randy Grove, Executive Director of the Chicago Dental Society; and Bridgid Miller, Principal of St. Malachy School were also in attendance.

For more information, please visit StandingUpForIllinois.org.