GIVE KIDS A SMILE PROVIDES DENTAL CARE TO UNDERSERVED CHILDRENBy Ophir Alalouf

Introduction The owner and managing member of Kids Teeth, LLC, Ophir

Alalouf, DDS, provides quality routine dental care to children from birth through college. Dedicated to giving back to the community, Dr. Ophir Alalouf has supported and helped several organizations and programs, including Give Kids a Smile.

Sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Give Kids a Smile program began in 2003. The program brings together dentists from the community to provide comprehensive dental services to underserved children. Give Kids a Smile holds an annual event where children are able to receive dental screening, treatments, and education. Preparing to host its 12th event, Give Kids a Smile has grown over the years to include over 1,500 events around the country each year.

Give Kids a Smile The ADA’s Give Kids a Smile program enhances the

oral health of children in need on a large scale. The activities of the program also show policy makers what families who are disadvantaged must struggle through in their search for dental care, urging them to increase funding for pediatric oral health. Give Kids a Smile shows the dedication of the dental profession to the public’s access to care, while also raising community and nationwide awareness of the high level of oral disease rampant among children from low-income families. With the strong support of community members and dentists, the Give Kids a Smile program is able to help over 400,000 children each year.