The American Dental Association launched the Give Kids A Smile Program nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists across the country to join with others in their community to provide dental services to underserved children. Each year dentists and team members volunteer their time and services to approximately 450,000 children across the nation.

During the month of March, Drs. Kimberly and David Harte will provide free dental sealants to the children of any family finding themselves financially challenged due to the economy or insufficientdental converage.

Dental sealants are thin coatings which are applied to the chewing surfaces of their back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and adolescents occurs on the chewing surfaces of their back teeth or molars. Molars have irregular surfaces with deep pits and fissureswhich tend to trap food and bacterial debris. Sealants flow into and coat these pits and fissures so that bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay. Sealants have been shown to decrease decay by 3300%; and regarded as one of the greatest preventive public health measures in history by the Surgeon General of the United States.

Applying sealants is simple and painless. Children between the ages of five and fourteen benefit most from sealants.

Over the next month, if you would like free dental sealants for your children, please call Harte Dental and Associates at (617) 696-5257 located at 480 Adams Street in East Milton.