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The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is providing free oral exams as part of its month-long celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM).

The SDM Community and Preventive Dentistry Program invites local elementary school children to the Alton campus throughout the month of February for free exams and comprehensive, fun and interactive oral health education. The SDM has conducted the program for more than 20 years. School children will come to the Alton campus twice a week throughout the month of February.

SIU SDM Year III and Year IV dental students are involved in the NCDHM program. The learning centers focus on oral-systemic connections, appropriate dietary and beverage choices and oral hygiene.

“The experiment table uses eggs and chicken bones immersed in sodas and teaches about the effects of acids in drinks on teeth and bones,” said Poonam Jain, BDS, MS, MPH, director of SIU SDM Community and Preventive Dentistry. “The children simply love our spinning wheels that have questions about diet, hygiene and connections of the mouth to the body.”

At the end of each session, all participating children receive an oral health kit and each participating teacher receives a set of educational resources.

Photos:

Morgan Harding, Year III SDM student, asks a group of children a question from the spinning wheel.

Josh Heimerdinger, Year IV SDM student, checks a student’s mouth for cavities.

Poonam Jain, Poonam Jain, BDS, MS, MPH and director of Community and Preventive Dentistry, explains the need for good oral care to a classroom of students.