The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith's dental hygiene program will sponsor free after-school dental clinics Tuesday and March 12 for area children through the UAFS Smilz Kids Clinic.

Preventive services offered by the clinic include a dental cleaning and exam, X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants to prevent cavities, a UAFS news release states. All dental hygiene services are provided by UAFS dental hygiene students under the supervision of UAFS dental hygiene faculty and staff.

"The After School Smilz program has provided valuable clinical enrichment for students in the UAFS dental hygiene program," Pam Davidson, grant writer and assistant professor of dental hygiene at

UAFS, said. "While providing much-needed care to children who have limited dental care resources, it also strengthens the students' abilities to connect detection of dental disease with the importance of

prevention and a better understanding of health disparities that exist for a substantial number of children in our area."

Maricela Gonzalez, a senior UAFS dental hygiene student who has participated in the Smilz program in previous years, explained how the opportunity to connect with children in a clinical setting not only improves her understanding of dental procedures, but the children's as well.

"This clinic has been very beneficial to the community, especially the younger 4-5 year olds who have never been to the dentist," Gonzalez said. "I see how receptive they are with us when they are here, and the amount of treatment we provide to all these patients saves them a great deal of money. We hope this helps them get over any preliminary fear of dental care and that they will find a dental home and be happy to go."

The free clinics are made possible through a grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas. Appointment times will be available at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. both days at the Pendergraft Health

Sciences Center on the UAFS campus at 715 N. Waldron Road.

To schedule an appointment or find out more information about the program, call the UAFS Dental Hygiene Clinic at (479) 788-7270.