ORAL HEALTH AMERICA AND PARTNERS PLEDGE TO SUPPORT PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE FOR 500,000 AT-RISK CHILDREN

 

ORAL HEALTH AMERICA AND PARTNERS PLEDGE TO

SUPPORT PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE FOR 500,000 AT-RISK CHILDREN 

Greater NY Dental Meeting Event Promotes

Charitable Cause 

  

November 30, 2010, Chicago,

IL—At an event yesterday at the Greater New

York Dental Meeting, Oral Health America announced the launch of the

Seal Two Million Campaign, and committed to sealing two million teeth for over

500,000 at-risk children by 2020.  Dental

sealants are a plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of children’s

teeth, and are a proven measure in fighting tooth decay (or cavities).  Tooth decay is the most common chronic

childhood disease in the United

States, and children miss over 51 million

school hours each year due to dental related illness.

“It is almost unimaginable to many

Americans that there are children in our communities who go to school unable to

concentrate because their mouths are hurting from untreated tooth decay,” said Beth Truett, President and CEO, Oral Health America.  “Our Smiles Across America® program grantees,

who provide preventive dental care services in school-based or school-linked

settings, see children in pain every day. 

The Seal Two Million Campaign reflects our intention to expand the

impact of our programs, and represents our commitment to ensuring that all children

and families get the dental care they need.” 

DENTSPLY International, a 55-year

supporter of Oral Health America,

hosted the event, and led the dental industry and profession in pledging to support

the Seal Two Million Campaign.   

“DENTSPLY International is a proud

supporter of Oral Health America’s

programs, and is honored to help raise awareness among the dental industry and

profession of the Seal Two Million Campaign,” said Linda Niessen, DMD, Chief

Clinical Officer, DENTSPLY International. 

“We know that a gift to Oral Health America, whether it’s funding or

donated dental product, is truly making a difference keeping children and

adults healthy, in school and at work.” 

This year, Oral Health America reached its previous goal, a commitment

made to America’s

Promise Alliance in 2000, to provide one million dental sealants for over

225,000 children by 2010.  Companies that

have generously contributed donated over one million dental sealants include

DENTSPLY International, 3M ESPE, Pulpdent Corporation, Harry J. Bosworth

Company, and Ivoclar Vivadent.   

“This type of commitment exemplifies

the impact that the work of our 400+ Alliance

partners engage in every day to improve the lives of children and youth in this

country. It represents the kind of action that’s necessary to ensure our young

people graduate high school healthy and prepared to reach their full

potential,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s

Promise Alliance. “The Alliance congratulates

Oral Health America

on this tremendous milestone and applauds them on their desire to extend this

wonderful program because we know that the health of our young people is an

essential ingredient for their overall success.” 

Oral

Health America, a national non-profit organization founded in 1955, is

dedicated to changing lives by connecting communities with resources to

increase access to oral health care, education and advocacy for all Americans,

especially those most vulnerable.  For

more information, visit www.oralhealthamerica.org. 

 

 

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