LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The only pediatric dental office on the Historic Westside celebrating 1,500 patients served by spending the day helping underserved kids in the neighborhood.
Monday, Changing Smiles hosted a community celebration at its office on Martin Luther King Boulevard and Lake Mead. It featured a baby supplies giveaway, face painting, free haircuts, and free dental screenings for kids.
Leaders with Changing Smiles said, before the practice opened in 2024, more than 30,000 kids in the area didn’t have access to a pediatric dentist within three miles of their home. For many of them, that meant a lapse in dental care, which can cause problems in school.
MORE ON FOX5: Free community event will feature dental screenings, supplies and giveaways
“Usually when we see children, they don’t just have one [cavity]; they usually have four or five, sometimes six,” said Dr. Terry Meads, founder of Changing Smiles. “Sometimes, sadly, we see children with decay or cavities across every tooth in the mouth. And the way that affects them in school is it’s hard to concentrate when they have a toothache.”
Untreated childhood dental disease is one of the leading causes of missed school days in the United States.
Dr. Meads encouraged families on the Historic Westside to keep an eye out for future events and opportunities for a free cleaning.
“We’re always doing some sort of giveaway, give back in some form or fashion,” said Meads. “If you miss today, then just stay locked in with us. We’ll get you an upcoming day sometime.”
Changing Smiles offers free services for children on Medicaid.
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