By Diana Hanford
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – (March 4, 2021) Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) and Leadership Broward Class XXXIX’s team Operation Smile hosted Spread Smiles and Bee Happy, a family-friendly, dental-themed parade on Saturday, February 27.
Florida Senator Shevrin ‘Shev’ Jones, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Ben Sorensen were among local dignitaries who joined the festivities and honored CDTC with a special Proclamation in celebration of Children’s Dental Health Month.
Children with special needs and those who are at risk had a chance to meet the Tooth Fairy and their favorite characters from Frozen. Dr. Lidia Alonso, DMD, CDTC’s pediatric dentist, who specializes in children who require personal, specialized care helped families learn CDTC’s Dental Clinic which helps to relieve anxieties and fears children may have when going to the dentist.
The first 150 attendees also received free goodie bags packed with giveaways valued at $100 thanks to Spread Smiles and Bee Happy sponsors Moss Construction, Tripp Scott, Flamingo Gardens, Museum of Discovery & Science, Lunchbox and Florida Children’s Theatre.
Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center’s Dental Clinic promotes good dental health and oral hygiene for children and adolescents with complex or special needs. Dr. Alonso and her team provide care to children with many different complex diagnoses, including autism and cerebral palsy, and can treat many conditions that some pediatric dentists cannot. CDTC’s Dental Clinic provides the additional care, time, and specialized tools each child needs to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. Families with special needs children can make an appointment with the Center’s pediatric dentist by calling (954) 728-1126.
About CDTC
Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) is a not-for-profit serving nearly 11,000 clients with special healthcare needs in Broward County annually. As a facility of Broward Health, CDTC’s mission is to promote the optimal health and well-being of children with special healthcare needs by providing comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment services. CDTC is a recognized National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) offering a unique system of care for infants, children, youth and women with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and developmental delays. For more information, visit ChildrensDiagnostic.org.
