Oral Health America Gala Raises Funds For Public School-Based Dental Services

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Aid / Disasters;  Public Health
Article Date: 23 Feb 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Over 900 Oral Health America supporters gather tonight at Chicago's Navy Pier Grand Ballroom for the nation's largest charitable event in dentistry, raising funds to improve access to care for the 108 million Americans without dental insurance.

Oral Health America (OHA), the nation's premier, independent oral health advocacy organization, is pleased to welcome Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley as Honorary Chairman for its 17th Annual Gala Dinner and Benefit. The event will raise funds to support educational and service programs designed to improve oral health-and raise the profile of oral health's importance to overall health.

According to Dr. Mary Hayes, Gala chair and a Chicago pediatric dentist, "The Mayor has worked to ensure that school children in Chicago are free of dental disease. Funds raised from the Gala make it possible for OHA to continue to support school-based oral health programs in our city and throughout the country."

Since 2004, OHA provided more than $200,000 to the Chicago Oral Health Program, a cooperative effort between the Chicago Department of Public Health and Chicago Public Schools. The oral health program expanded from approximately 30 schools in 2004 to more than 260 schools in spring 2006. Program officials plan to reach every school-aged child in the city within two years with oral exams, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants.

"I commend Oral Health America for helping to make Chicago a better and healthier place to live, work and raise families," said Mayor Daley.

Nationally, over 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental disease, and for every dollar spent in preventive care now, communities save $8 to $50 in restorative care later, especially for the many thousands of Americans without insurance and routine access to a dentist. Tooth decay, caused by bacteria in the mouth, is the most common chronic childhood disease.

In 2006 alone, OHA donated over $1.1 million to support oral health programs from Maine to California.

The Oral Health America Gala, held each year during the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, is one of the dental industry's premier networking events. The event will run from 6:30pm to 11pm. For more information about Oral Health America visit http://www.oralhealthamerica.org/.

Oral Health America
http://www.oralhealthamerica.org/

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