Through its enthusiastic support of Smiles Across Minnesota, a Smiles Across America® partner, Delta Dental of Minnesota has forged a strong and important relationship with Oral Health America. Ann Johnson, Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Minnesota Trust and co-chair of Smiles Across Minnesota, recently discussed why the company got involved with OHA and what Smiles Across Minnesota has been able to achieve.

“At Delta Dental of Minnesota, we believe our potential to solve today’s oral health challenges is directly related to thoughtful strategies combined with powerful partnerships.

This country needs national and local advocates for oral health. Therefore we fully recognize the value that Oral Health America brings through its programs and activities, informing Americans about the full meaning of oral health and its importance to general health as well as connecting communities to resources.

From the very first time we met with OHA in 2005, we were impressed by the genuine and vibrant commitment of the organization’s leadership to establish a pilot Smiles Across America site in Minnesota. Thanks to our collaboration on OHA’s Smiles Across America program, in Minnesota we have substantially increased the number of children receiving sealants and school-based oral health care. In addition, I believe that we have been successful in combining a serious mission with a fun process and committed individuals. Every time we launch a major new program site we attempt to bring communities members together in a way that has not been done before around the topic of oral health.”