June 26, 2012, Chicago, IL— After meeting its goal to seal one million teeth by 2010, Oral Health America (OHA) recommitted to America's Promise Alliance to seal two million teeth for more than 500,000 at-risk children by 2020. OHA is now on pace to not only meet that goal, but beat it. During the first full year of the Seal Two Million campaign, OHA and its partners sealed 428,000 teeth. At this pace, OHA will reach two million teeth by 2015, five years ahead of schedule.
OHA reaches at-risk children through both Smiles Across America® (SAA) and the Smiles Across America® Product Donation Project. SAA awards grants to school-based and school-linked sealant programs across the country, reaching more than 350,000 children annually. In addition, more than 500,000 units of donated dental product are distributed each year through the SAA Product Donation Project, allowing programs to provide more children with preventive services and lower operating costs. The Product Donation Project is graciously supported by the following corporations: 3M ESPE, DENTSPLY International, Harry J. Bosworth Company, Ivoclar Vivadent, Premier, Preventech, Pulpdent, and GC America.
“The Seal Two Million promise is about helping at-risk kids get the preventive services they need to stay healthy”, said John Stefanick, Director, Industry & Professional Relations, 3M ESPE. “The commitment that OHA made to America’s Promise will change the lives of thousands of children throughout the nation and 3M ESPE is proud to stand behind those efforts. 3M also congratulates OHA on a successful first year of the campaign and looks forward to celebrating the new goal’s successes—hopefully in just 5 years!”
Oral Health America’s mission is to change 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.