Kids can get free dental care Friday at Kids Smiles, a nonprofit dental center in Southeast D.C., for Give Kids a Smile Day.
Each child who goes can get their teeth cleaned and will also get an oral exam from a dentist.
Kids Smiles, located at 4837 Benning Road in D.C., caters to kids ages 2 to 21 who come from families with low incomes or no dental insurance. Parents can call for an appointment at 202-650-5238. Kids Smiles closes at 4:30 p.m.
The dentistry accepts new patients at all times and normally charges based on a sliding scale. They also accept Medicaid plans for D.C., Maryland and Virginia as well as many private insurances.
Tooth decay is the No. 1 chronic childhood illness in the United States, according to the National Children's Oral Health Foundation.
Give Kids a Smile Day is a national day sponsored by the American Dental Association. This year, more than 7,000 dentists signed up to provide free dental care to 285,889 children.
"The goal of Give Kids a Smile Day, to raise awareness about children's oral health and bring dental care to children in need, is part of the mission that Kids Smiles fulfills every day," Cheryl Janssen, CEO of Kids Smiles, said in a statement.
