SDA to offer free dental services for kids in February

The Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Dental Clinic will be offering free dental services for uninsured children 18 years old and below, this February as part of a campaign called “Give Kids A Smile.”

The event, to be held on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, from 8am to 12pm at the SDA clinic on a first-come, first-serve basis, is an opportunity for CNMI children who do not have Medicaid or other dental insurance so they could obtain oral health services such as dental exams, extractions, fillings, cleanings, and fluoride treatment.

Give Kids a Smile is a yearly dental outreach of the Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic held every February. It is part of the nationwide Give Kids a Smile program that the American Dental Association has been conducting since 2002.

Between 2012 and 2020, about 200 underserved children in the CNMI have already received free oral health care at the SDA clinic.

Jocelyn Sonsona, office manager of Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, would like to invite parents to avail of this campaign.

“We invite parents to this great opportunity by bringing their children who do not have Medicaid or any dental insurance. In addition to free dental treatment, kids will receive oral kits (toothbrushes and dental floss), pencils, stickers, and oral health education from our professional staff,” she said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, school-age children who have poor oral hygiene miss more school days and have poorer grades than children with healthy teeth.

Sonsona said the SDA clinic believes providing free dental service to uninsured children helps take care of young, developing teeth to reduce plaque and prevent gum disease and tooth decay—which will improve a child’s overall health.

“This will mean fewer sick days and time off from school, less time dealing with discomfort from cavities, and more days doing what they do best being a kid,” she added.

For more information, the SDA clinic can be reached at (670) 234-6323 or info@saipansdadental.com.