In a win for smiles throughout the community, the Trenton City Council has approved a resolution awarding $100,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to KinderSmile. KinderSmile Foundation is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a fully staffed dental office serving Trenton residents at 101 North Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Under ARP guidelines, the City can allocate federal relief funds to local organizations that aid in developing healthy childhood environments and strong communities. 

KinderSmiles strives to provide access to dental care and age-appropriate education to foster healthy dental habits in the home of families in underserved communities. Through their work, they seek to improve dental health outcomes in Trenton residents and implement day-to-day strategies to help prevent decay in the first place. Dental health is an important factor in overall health and well-being, and staying on top of oral hygiene is a fundamental building block toward better health outcomes in the future. 

“KinderSmile has positively impacted the lives of the youth in Trenton,” stated Mayor Reed Gusciora. “This administration is proud to be supporting improved health outcomes among children in the Capital City: Through our support of KinderSmile, we’ll be helping to ensure that uninsured children in Trenton benefit from our city’s wonderful community oral health center.”

With over 15 years of service to the Trenton community, KinderSmile Foundation has provided $10 million of in-kind dental services, impacting over 40,000 low-income children in New Jersey. As of 2022, KinderSmile Oral Health Center Trenton has served over 2,200 patients and 1,163 children. In February 2023, KinderSmile opened its doors to uninsured children and provided free exams, x-rays, and cleanings to 241 children.  

“KinderSmile Foundation is grateful for the financial support from the ARP funding,” said Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes of KinderSmile Foundation. “These funds are specifically to serve the children and families of KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Trenton; they will be used to purchase oral hygiene kits, clinical supplies & equipment and help to increase the workforce in Trenton. Oral Health is the Gateway to Total Health. We strive to ensure we save lives one smile at a time.”

KinderSmile Oral Health Program (KSOHP) has increased access to dental care for underinsured children in New Jersey. They bring free dental exams, prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, and sealants to the families in their schools, faith-based organization, or centers. Follow-up care would then be available for all kids 0-18 years old at their locations in Trenton, Bloomfield, and Newark, NJ. If you’d like to read more about KinderSmile and learn about available services in our community, you can visit their website here: Home – KinderSmile. Thanks to the hard work of the team at KinderSmile and the support of the City of Trenton, smiles just got a bit brighter in the Capital City!

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