Dental Hygienists’ Toothfairy Grants awarded to National Children’s Oral Health Foundation Affiliate programs to stem the tide of pediatric dental disease

Dental Hygienists’ Toothfairy Grants awarded to National Children’s Oral  Health Foundation Affiliate programs to stem the tide of pediatric dental disease

(Charlotte, NC—January 6, 2009) The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) has awarded three Dental Hygienists’ Toothfairy Grants totaling $14,000 to organizations to help eliminate children’s suffering from preventable dental disease. Grants are made possible through contributions to the Dental Hygienists’ Toothfairy Campaign in partnership with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

NCOHF President and CEO Fern Ingber said, “NCOHF is very grateful to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and all dental hygienists who have made generous contributions to the Toothfairy Campaign. Together, we are focused on providing underserved children effective preventive oral health services that break the cycle of preventable pediatric dental disease.”

Dental Hygienists’ Toothfairy Grants were awarded to the following NCOHF Affiliate network organizations:

§ $10,000 to Catholic Healthcare West (Chandler, Arizona), that in collaboration with multiple community partners has expanded its new dental clinic to reduce the incidence of needless suffering through its prevention and intervention dental program

§ $2,000 to Primary Health Care, Inc. Dental Clinic (Des Moines, Iowa) for vital prevention education program materials that teach positive behaviors to prevent pediatric dental disease

§ $2,000 to A Fluoride Connection Non Profit Corporation (Madison, Wisconsin) for materials teaching prevention and positive behaviors that prevent needless pain caused by pediatric dental disease

Recipients are members of NCOHF’s national affiliate network, dedicated to delivering comprehensive oral health treatment and preventive educational services to millions of economically disadvantaged children and their families.

Nancy Adrianse, RDH for Primary Health Care, Inc. expressed her excitement. “The funding is very beneficial since we are currently seeing many more people who do not have the means to pay for dental care in our clinics. We are very excited to receive our educational material and begin using it with our most vulnerable children. Thank you so much for this great opportunity!”

About the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF)

The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to raising awareness of the #1 chronic childhood illness: pediatric dental disease, facilitating delivery of comprehensive pediatric oral health services, and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations. NCOHF draws on vast national resources to secure and distribute product and financial donations along with innovative preventive programs to a growing network of not-for-profit community-based universities, health centers, dental clinics, and mobile programs throughout America.

For more information on NCOHF, please visit www.AmericasToothfairy.org.