North Carolina GKAS event surpasses goals

Burlington, N.C.鈥?Dr. LaRosa Pinnix-Bailey estimates the GKAS team provided more than $21,000 in free dental treatment Feb. 2. “In addition to making history by surpassing our goal of 100 kids, we had dentists and other volunteers show up who were not even expected.” She described it as “an outpouring of community love.” Dr. Pinnix-Bailey has organized GKAS events here since 2003.

Colgate, the GKAS national product sponsor, sent a Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental van to support the GKAS event serving low income children in Alamance and Caswell counties. During the patient education complement to their clinical experience, children met such characters as Dr. Rabbit, the Tooth Fairy and that rogue of decay, the plaque monster.

On the Colgate van this sunny Carolina morning, dental professionals conducted 151 education presentations and 27 screenings, said Margaret Hooper, event coordinator with Dr. Pinnix-Bailey.

The ADA News thanks Dr. Eric M. Rivera and Mrs. Robin S. Rivera who volunteered to provide Give Kids A Smile photo coverage. Dr. Rivera is the graduate program director and chair of the department of endodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.