Oregon Dental Association Sponsors Statewide Check-Up for Kids on Give Kids a Smile Day - February 6, 2004

Oregon Dentists join dentists nationwide to provide free dental exams, oral health education, screening and treatment for underserved children suffering from poor oral health. Give Kids A Smile Day - February 6, 2004, is sponsored by the American Dental Association.

Portland, OR January 16, 2004 -- Oregon dentists will certainly give kids a smile on Friday, February 6, by offering free dental services and education to children of low-income families. The Oregon Dental Association (ODA) will join thousands of dental professionals across the country help underserved youth in America who aren't getting the oral health care they need. This annual nationwide event is sponsored by the American Dental Association during National Childrens Dental Health Month to highlight access to care awareness for policy makers. Additional information about the program is found on the American Dental Association website: www.ada.org

Give Kids A Smile! will focus attention on the epidemic of oral disease among poor children. "Children in need are unable to help themselves. We want to work together with community leaders and legislators to successfully meet the oral health needs of children through state programs, preventive education and community-based disease prevention strategies like water fluoridation, " says Dr. Mark E. Jensen, President, Oregon Dental Association.

According to Health in America: A Report of the U.S. Surgeon General, (2000), more than 51 milliion school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness. "Without good dental health, it is impossible to have good overall health," says Dr. Weston Heringer, Jr., Vice-President, Oregon Dental Association. Personal oral hygiene habits should include brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily, a good nutritional diet and regular dental check-ups.

Oregon Dental Association stresses prevention as the most important component to good oral hygiene. Common prevention tactics include community water fluoridation, tobacco cessation programs and health care provider-based interventions such as the use of dental sealants and examination for oral cancer.

Dental Facts-
- Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma in U.S. children
- Cavities are the single most common chronic childhood disease
- 20% of Head Start Children (age 3-5) in Oregon suffer baby bottle tooth decay
- 47% of Oregon children between the ages of 3-5 have experienced cavities
- 55% of Oregon children between the ages of 6-8 have had cavities
- Oregon ranks 45th among all states with citizens receiving the benefits of water
Fluoridation; Every one dollar spent on water fluoridation would save 38 dollars in dental treatment.
          - J. Public Health Dent, Spring 2001, 61: 78-86
                        
Albertsons has partnered with the Oregon Dental Association and Children First for Oregon, the states leading voice for children since l991, to promote Give Kids A Smile Day! Albertsons supports Give Kids A Smile! because we feel that dental health care is as important to our kids and our communities as many of the other causes we support, such as hunger awareness and youth education. As a retailer that sells oral and dental hygiene products, this event is a natural fit, and provides us the opportunity to show that issues important to our customers are also important to us, says Mike Clawson, Albertsons Northwest Division President. (Albertsons PR Director e-mail protected from spam bots / 503. 251-9531)

On February 6, Give Kids A Smile Day! volunteer dental professionals will donate their expertise and supplies to provide free educational, preventive and restorative services for children who are registered in advance. The range of services being offered to low-income children will vary for each individual dental practice and patient.

February 6, 2004 Give Kids A Smile Day! -
Parents must register their children in advance, please call for appointment in your area:

Portland/Metro Area-     (503) 513-5010
Eugene/Springfield-     (541) 686-1175
Klamath Falls-               (541) 883-3087
Medford/Ashland-          (541) 608-4249
Grants Pass-               (541) 479-6393
Bend/Redmond-          (541) 617-1653
Roseburg-                    (541) 677-9276
Hood River/Dalles-     (541) 386-2010 ext. 220
Burns/Pendleton/John Day/Baker City- (541) 523-2144

National sponsors of Give Kids A Smile! include Sullivan-Schein Dental, DEXIS Digital X-Ray Systerms and Ivoclar-Vivadent Inc. and Crest Healthy Smiles 2010. Crest will donate dental-health packets which include toothbrushes, toothpaste and educational materials to be distributed to participating children. For more information visit the Oregon Dental Association website at - www.oregondental.org and Children First for Oregon website: www.cffo.org - Marie Hoeven, Executive Director 503.236-9754
                                                                                                                                                
The Oregon Dental Association (ODA) was founded in 1893 and is a constituent of the American Dental Association (ADA). With a membership of over 2,100 dentists, the ODA represents about 76 percent of all licensed dentists in the state. ODAs mission is to provide the leadership that serves the needs of its members, unites the profession and promotes an environment that enables its members to improve the oral health of the public.                                                                     

OREGON DENTAL ASSOCIATION
17898 Southwest McEwan Road
Portland,Oregon 97224-7798
Local 503.620.3230 In-State 800.452.5628
Facsimile 503.620.4169
Email: e-mail protected from spam bots
Website: www.oregondental.org
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