Eagle County Smiles Kids Dental Program
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Vail Valley Charitable FundYour donation will help sustain Eagle County Smiles and Eagle County Grins - dental care and education for Eagle County Residents.
$155
raised by 3 people
Eagle County Smiles (ECS) provides dental treatment to uninsured children ages 0-18 years. The program began in 2010 and has served over 800 children since we started.
Patients of ECS pay a $25 copay per visit, dental providers bill our program at current Medicaid schedule rates, and give the difference in-kind. A donation to our ECS program allows us to fund the program.
Why is this important?
18.4% of Eagle County residents are uninsured. This number is high when compared to both the state of Colorado and the national average. Estimates are even higher for dental insurance at approximately 45%.
The work of Eagle County Smiles is essential because poor dental health impacts children's ability to participate in their education. When children are in pain, they are likely to manifest behavior problems and lose focus on their studies. An uninsured child who accesses dental education and care via ECS will experience a more even playing field in accessing their education. Oral Health isn't only important in children, and we are very aware of the barriers that adults encounter. Eagle County Grins is a new program to address these problems for adults. Poor dental health is proven to be a precursor to other health problems, including heart disease. We are proud to help our community gain access to the care they need.