Aspen Given Institute
hosts dental fair
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On Feb. 25, second graders from Aspen and Basalt, Colo. went to The Given
Institute in Aspen, to participate in a dental education and screening fair.
Nearly 200 children were given dental orthodontic screenings, of which 32
appeared to have decay and many needed sealants.
During the event, the children rotate through five, 20-minute breakout sessions
of interactive preventive education. They are taught how to “attack
plaque” with tooth brushing techniques and learn about healthy snacks,
sealants, floss and -- of course -- the importance of regular visits to the
dentist. Educational materials are provided for parents in a bilingual format,
along with report cards of the screening results. School officials and local
agencies follow up on those who need dental care.
The annual fair, in its fifth year, has become a local tradition that the
students look forward to and the schools endorse. Local hygienists and community
members volunteer to help with the event, and funds are raised locally to
support it.
Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases. According to the
Surgeon General’s report, 18 percent of all young people have had a
cavity and 7 percent have lost a permanent tooth. It is important that caries
(another name for cavities) be prevented because unlike wounds, which heal,
cavities are not reversible.
The Given Institute is a year-round conference center of the University of
Colorado’s School of Medicine. Renowned architect Harry Weese designed
the building in 1971, under the direction of Dr. Donald W. King.
The building sits in a secluded garden, donated by Elizabeth Paepcke, in the
West End residential area, overlooking Hallam Lake. It is designed with United
Nations-style circular seating, ideal for interaction. The Irene Heinz Given
Foundation and the John LaPorte Given Foundation provided the funding.
For more information regarding conference space, contact Janet Ferrara at
970-925-1057 or visit http://www.uchsc.edu/giveninstitute/
.
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