Warren Dentist Makes Donation to 'Give Kids a Smile'

Dr. Daniel Sullivan, owner and oral surgeon of Warren Oral Surgery, on Friday will present a $1,000 check donation to Give Kids a Smile® _ a program that provides thousands of underprivileged children in New Jersey with free dental care — in a ceremony at Alfie’s Restaurant in Warren.

In addition to the donation, Warren Oral Surgery will be accepting oral surgery cases from the Give Kids a Smile program, accepting participating children at their office to be surgically treated at no cost. Warren Oral Surgery is the only oral surgery practice in all of New Jersey participating in the Give Kids a Smile program this year, according to information from the office.

“I’m proud to be part of a cause that is truly needed in New Jersey,” Dr. Sullivan said. “This program will help thousands of New Jersey’s children have access to dental care, who would otherwise go without it. I’m happy to give back to my community who has helped me succeed as an oral surgeon.”

Dr. Sullivan along with his colleagues Dr. Mo Rabah, DMD, and Dr. Mohammed Erakat, DMD, MD, all oral surgeons at Warren Oral Surgery, said they are exciting to be joining with Give Kids a Smile to help provide access to dental services as well as surgical care in their office. 

Dr. Robert Giantomas, president of the New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA) also associated with the Give Kids a Smile program, is scheduled to be present to accept the check at Friday's check presentation ceremony. The event is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM.

Give Kids a Smile, a national program started by the American Dental Association (ADA), allows underprivileged children up to the age of 12 to receive free dental care on the nationwide “Give Kids a Smile Day." That day next falls on February 7, 2014. 

New Jersey dentists participate in the program by accepting registered children into their office for free on “Give Kids a Smile Day."

Donation also will help bus children to offices

The donation by Warren Oral Surgery also will help bus children and their parents to these dental offices, since many of these kids do not have means of transportation to those locations. In addition, the donation will help cover the costs of needed dental supplies such as sealants and other equipment necessary to treat patients in local dental offices. 

"Give Kids a Smile allows the dental profession not only to give back to the community, but in many cases, to give a child his smile back." said Dr. Giantomas. 

He said that according to the National Institutes of Health, 42 percent of children under age 11 have untreated dental caries (cavities) accounting for missed school days for children and work days for parents. "Children who cannot see a dentist regularly often depend on Give Kids a Smile for a dental home," he said.

Warren Oral Surgery describes its practice as one of New Jersey’s leading oral surgery practices, offering services such as dental Implants, wisdom teeth removal, extractions and New Teeth in a Day. More information is available by calling Michelle Procida at 908-222-7922, by email at michelle@warrenoralsurgery.com, or on Warren Oral Surgery’s webpage at http://www.warrenoralsurgery.com.

About Give Kids a Smile

The American Dental Association began the Give Kids A Smile program in 2003 as a way for dentists to join with others in the community to provide dental services to under-served children. The program initially began as a one-day event in February, but has since grown to local and national events throughout the year. 

Dentists and other team members volunteer their time, and services, to provide screenings, treatments and education to children throughout the United States. Each year, approximately 450,000 children nationwide benefit from more than 1,500 events through the efforts of 40,000 or more annual volunteers, according to the organization.