If you haven't written the GKAS date down in your scheduling book, don't let another day slip by: Feb. 5, 2010. Regardless of your activity, whether in the office or off site, marking down the date not only serves as a reminder, but also tells your staff not to schedule the normal patient load that day. Next, think about the type of GKAS activity you'd like to participate in: treating patients in your office, treating patients offsite at a nearby clinic, going to schools to give presentations, etc. Consider all your options and select activities that best suit you and your dental practice. If your activity involves more than just your participation as a dentist, organize a staff meeting, and brainstorm ideas and goals for the event:

• How will we schedule patients that day?
• How many patients should we schedule?
• Will the patients be pre-identified or will we have a first-come, first-served event?
• What hours am I/are we available that day?
• Where should we recruit deserving patients? Does anyone have connections to a local school or church? Do we have any current patients who work for organizations that help low-income families?
• Do we have bilingual capability in the office or do we know someone who could help if need be?
• What schools or community centers nearby would be interested in an oral health presentation?

Time to start solidifying your plans.

If you would like to treat patients in a location other than your office (such as the CU Denver School of Dental Medicine), make sure that the CDA is aware of your interest to volunteer in a participating clinic. The CDA will make the arrangements for you and will contact you with details for the day. Call or e-mail the CDA at 303-740-6900, 800-343-3010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you are visiting schools or community centers to give educational presentations, start contacting teachers and program coordinators to offer your services and to set-up a class/group presentation. It is important to contact schools before the end of the year (winter break) so teachers can include you in their 2010 lesson plans. If you don't have a school you can contact, please call the CDA, as requests often come in from schools at this time of year. The CDA also has many educational resources: lesson plans, activity sheets, education tools, posters, etc.

If you are treating patients in your private office, begin contacting Boys and Girls Clubs, United Way, Head Start programs, school nurses and/or church organizations to recruit patients. These programs will be able to locate children without insurance from low-income families who could use your generous services. Explain to your contact how many children you're able to treat and the details of your event. Make sure that they know that GKAS is a Friday event, so they can work with their families regarding transportation, etc. The CDA can assist you if you have questions or need help recruiting patients. December is also a good time to think about the option of providing patient goody bags, waiting room entertainment/activity sheets/toys, etc.

January:
One-month countdown! Now is the time to secure all of your plans for patients and presentations. Click here for scheduling tips! If you're seeing patients in your office, schedule your patients at this time and don't forget to obtain a good contact number to confirm their appointments at least once. Events of this nature unfortunately produce a "no-show" factor due to transportation problems, time away from jobs and other unanticipated issues. For this reason, consider booking a few extra patients or even double-booking patients for your event. While this could result in a very busy day, it will more likely result in a day of great success, and fulfilled patients and dental staff members.

February:
Give Kids a Smile Day is on Feb. 5. Please keep track of the treatment you deliver to patients on the CDA-provided reporting forms. If you are visiting schools, please fill out the CDA School Presentation Tracking form. Both of these forms can be faxed or mailed back to the CDA for reporting purposes to government officials, the ADA and the media. These forms are for CDA record keeping purposes and our only method of compiling and reporting the success of GKAS.