Thanks Elks, for helping curb tooth decay

Dear Editor:

Thank you, Aspen Elks Lodge 224, for generously sponsoring the 11th Annual Children’s Dental Fair.

Thirty volunteers made possible dental screenings and education. Two-hundred and seventy-three second-graders from Aspen and Basalt were rotated through five interactive educational activity stations.

Each child was given a dental care kit that included educational material and results of the screening for their parents.

Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases.

By age 17, 78 percent of young people have had a cavity. This is shocking considering dental decay is 100 percent preventable with good oral hygiene, sealants, fluoride and regular dental visits.

Dental health preventable services pays one of the highest dividends per dollar and time invested when compared with other health area practices today.

The children were screened by professional dental volunteers. Decay is evident in our valley. Thank you Elks, dedicated volunteers, and the Aspen To Parachute Dental Health Alliance for helping our community have healthy smiles.

Ask your dental office about the fair.

If they participated, they will have great fun stories to share.

Cheri Grinnell, RDH

Kelly Keeffe , RDH, regional oral health consultant

Karla Rohrbaugh, RDH