Fidelis Care Joins University at Buffalo's Smile Team for "Give Kids a Smile Day"

AMHERST, NY (02/02/2012)(readMedia)-- Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, is pleased to join with the University at Buffalo's Smile Team for "Give Kids a Smile Day" on February 3rd from 9:00am until 3:30pm at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine's Squire Hall. Give Kids a Smile Day is a way for families in the Buffalo area to kick off Children's Dental Health Month, and encourage dental health throughout the year.

Give Kids a Smile Day is a one-day national event where children ages 1-18 without dental insurance can receive free dental services. The Smile Team will offer dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, X-rays (if needed), sealants, extractions, and orthodontic consultations.

Fidelis Care representatives, along with the Fidelasaurus mascot, will be attending the Give Kids a Smile Day event from 9:00am until 2:00pm, and will be available to assist parents in obtaining health insurance coverage for their families through Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid Managed Care programs. Dental coverage is offered through these insurance programs, ensuring that the preventive care and treatment received at Give Kids a Smile Day continues to be available throughout the year. Child Health Plus is available to nearly every child in the state, regardless of family income, on a sliding premium scale.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, lack of proper dental care is a leading factor in school absenteeism, with students missing more than 51 million hours of a classroom time annually due to lack of care. Poor dental health habits established at an early age are likely to be carried throughout life. Many adult health issues can be avoided through proper dental care habits started during childhood.

With nearly 730,000 members in 59 counties statewide, Fidelis Care was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Members have access to a provider network of more than 48,000 health care professionals statewide. Regional offices are located in Albany, Syracuse, Amherst, and Rego Park (Queens), with satellite offices in Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Suffern.

For information on Child Health Plus, or any of Fidelis Care's quality, affordable health insurance programs, please call 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

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