Students Serving Special Needs in the Community at the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Roosevelt (ICRE)
An enthusiastic group of students, faculty and staff of the UIC College of Dentistry make an annual visit to the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Roosevelt (ICRE) in Chicago as part of the Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) initiative. Over 30 students, 2 pediatric dentistry residents, 6 faculty members - and even the tooth fairy! - participate.
The event not only provides real-life experiences for dental students providing oral health education and treatment to individuals with special needs, but simultaneously serves a population that often deals with access to care issues.
The UIC College of Dentistry is proud to serve our community of special needs patients at the ICRE. Services include oral health education and instruction on brushing, flossing, healthy eating and smoking. The event also provides preventative care and identified several patients who will continue their care at the college.
Give Kids a Smile Day
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry holds an annual Give Kids a Smile Day event to serve kids in need of care - and have some fun! Most recently, 50 youngsters from area schools came to the College on Feb. 4 and received oral health education and screenings at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry’s Delta Dental of Illinois Predoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Clinic and its Dale C. Nickelsen and Caren C. Nickelsen Pediatric Dentistry Postgraduate Clinic.
Dr. Sahar Alrayyes, Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry, and Dr. Larry Salzmann, Clinical Professor and Predoctoral Program Clinic Director, were in charge of a team of predoctoral students who provided care. The day also featured face painting and a visit from Sparky D. Dragon, the UIC mascot.
“Some of the Children of Peace students were deaf or hard of hearing,” explained Khatijia Noorullah, Clinical Community Academic Manager. “This added breadth to our students’ experience as they worked with sign language experts with the youngsters.”
The Chicago Dental Society Foundation gave the College $5,000 provided by the Wrigley Co. Foundation through its Oral Care Community Service Grant Program for the ICRE-R event. Wrigley works with the CDS Foundation and other dental professional organizations by providing funding for those organizations to give out grants for those interested in community service.