Brittany Lahoda

Tooth decay remains the number one chronic childhood illness. It can cause pain, problems with mouth and speech development, and missed school hours for children throughout the country. However, it affects low-income children most due to limited access to care. Kids Smiles, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit that provides dental health care and education through dental centers located in communities that face the greatest barriers to accessing care. Our dental centers are currently located in Southwest and West Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Kids Smiles also provides community outreach services, including dental screenings, health education, and school-based prevention services through partnerships with area schools and other organizations. Kids Smiles'​ unique model of quality dental health care combined with comprehensive health education provides the immediate dental care that children need with the knowledge to improve their health outcomes into adulthood. Kids Smiles'​ mission is "to provide children in under-served urban communities with preventive and restorative oral health care as well as innovative health education programs, focusing on the prevention of dental disease and the development of positive, personal health behaviors."