Importance of access to oral health care emphasized

Kool Smiles, a leading general dentistry provider for kids and parents, opened the doors to its newest location in the Bashford area of Louisville, KY.

To commemorate the day, Kool Smiles held a press conference where dentists and state and local officials convened to discuss the state of children's oral health in the Louisville area and Kool Smiles' commitment to providing access to quality dental care.

In a show of support, many influential leaders attended the event, including Senator Dan Seum, Senator Julie Denton, Representative Tom Burch (Chair of House Health & Welfare), Kentucky's Dental Medicaid Director, Ron Holtzman (Metro Councilman Jim King's Chief of Staff), and David Algood (Amerihealth Mercy Health Plan (Passport)).

"With the oral health crisis continuing to be one of the largest challenges our state's children have to face, we're excited to have Kool Smiles open additional access to high quality oral healthcare specifically to the children and adults who need it most," said Senator Julie Denton, Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee.

Other speakers included Dr. William K. Rich, DMD, Kentucky's Dental Medicaid Director who offered, "I welcome and appreciate people and organizations who are willing to help with the oral health of children, especially with the underserved community." Scott Love, Louisville's Economic Development Officer was also in attendance and presented Kool Smiles with a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Abramson, the Mayor of Louisville.

Senator Dan "Malano" Seum, who attended the meeting noted, "It is nice to see that dental is a priority with KCHIP, as a legislator who has voted to support KCHIP, I am happy to see the funding is available and care is getting to the people."

Following the press conference, families and friends of Kool Smiles were invited to attend a community fair where they received oral screenings, consultations and goodie bags filled with tips and tools to improve their oral health. Throughout the day, families also enjoyed games, prizes, drinks and snacks.

The opening of this office, located at 3510 Bardstown Road, is another important step in Kool Smiles' efforts to address what the Surgeon General has called one of the greatest unmet needs in children today: oral health.

"Kool Smiles was founded with the vision of providing access to quality dental care in communities that have traditionally been underserved," states Dr. Polly Buckey, the Regional Dental Director for Kool Smiles. "We are honored to provide such a valuable resource to Louisville and look forward to partnering with the local schools, daycare centers, and social service agencies to ensure that there is access to quality dental care in this community."