July 2010 E-News

NSTEP PSA | Join Fall for Smiles | Funding for Children’s Dental Coverage

July 2010 eNewsletter
Oral Health America

IN THIS ISSUE
Chicago White Sox Pitcher John Danks Lends His Voice to NSTEP®
Individual Donor: Dr. William Covington
GKAS Supporters Gather in Chicago To Promote Children’s Dental Homes
Join the Fall for Smiles® Campaign
Dental School Partners Recognize OHA’s Multi-Year Contributions
Corporate Donor: GC America
Tell Congress to Fund Children’s Dental Coverage
OHA Takes Time Out for Strategic Planning

Oral Health America

IN THE NEWS!

Aspen Dental mentions a report by Oral Health America in a recent press release about the importance of early dental care.
Read the release here

DentistryIQ.com
picks up John Danks’ PSA for NSTEP®.

DrBicuspid.com covers
OHA’s NSTEP and Smiles Across America® news.
Read the articles here and here.
Word about Fall for Smiles® is getting out! The South Boston, VA, News & Record included an announcement about the campaign on-line here.

BLOGGING FOR OHA
OHA’s University of North Carolina intern, Ben Anders, is blogging for OHA. Read about his visit to Goldie’s Place,
University of IL Dental
School’s student
run clinic, offering free dental care, job training and education for people who are homelss in Chicago..
DONATION CONTEST ON TWITTER

After success with June’s Facebook toothbrush giveaway, this month OHA
promoted a giveaway on Twitter. Winner Carol Martin, RDH chose Water Street Health Services Dental Clinic, part of Water Street Ministries in Lancaster County, PA, to receive 500 adult toothbrushes. Congratulations to Carol and her charity! Follow OHA on Twitter to look for future chances
to help the charity of your choice.

THANK YOU TO THE AMERICAN DENTAL COOPERATIVE
The American Dental Cooperative (ADC) ran an article in the current issue of its quarterly magazine, In The Know, about OHA’s Medical Dental Dialogues.   ADC also gave a generous gift to OHA.
“We see the connection with oral health and overall health,” said Lori Paulson, Vice President of Marketing and Dental Programs at the ADC. “OHA’s Dialogues help educate the practitioner and the public on this important topic. We are proud to support OHA’s efforts in this industry which have supported us in return.”
OHA would like to thank the ADC for the generous donation and for helping us spread the word!

OHA BOARD MEMBER NEWS
OHA Board Member, Daniel Perkins, President and CEO of AEGIS Communications
announced the addition of Inside Dental Technology to AEGIS’s roster of publications.  The first issue will be available in October.

AEGIS has also hired OHA Board Member Kathy Zwieg, CDA as associate publisher & editor-in-chief of Inside Dental Assisting magazine.

Congratulations to Dan, Kathy and AEGIS!

OHA SPEAKS AT CHICAGO DENTAL SOCIETY EVENT

OHA President and CEO Beth Truett spoke at a Chicago Dental Society (CDS) friendraiser in June to thank CDS members for their support of OHA and our Smiles Across America® (SAA) program. Through a grant from CDS, OHA was able to help the Chicago Department of Public Health to seal nearly 100,000 teeth for Chicago Public School children during the 2009-2010 school year. By packaging dental consent forms with school lunch forms getting approximately 38,000 more students participated in the program!
OHA JOINS 128 ORGANIZATIONS IN ADVERTISEMENT FOR CHILD NUTRITION

OHA participated in an advertisement organized by Feeding America
that appeared last week in Roll Call and CQ Today, both Capitol Hill newspapers.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX PITCHER JOHN DANKS LENDS HIS VOICE TO NSTEP®

John Danks appears in NSTEP PSA

OHA recently teamed up with White Sox pitcher John Danks to film a public service announcement (PSA) at U.S. Cellular Field about the dangers of smokeless tobacco for OHA’s NSTEP® (National Spit Tobacco Education Program).

“One of the most memorable wins I’ve recorded was when I decided to quit tobacco. Quitting was hard, but one of the best decisions I could have made for my health, my family and my career,” Danks said in the PSA. Danks recently quit chewing tobacco after beginning to experience health problems and is now committed to sharing with his experience with children, preventing tobacco use, and encouraging users to quit. Click here and here to view two versions of the PSA.

The PSA will air on ESPN during the Little League World Series, August 20-29, and on the in-game screens at the Little League World Series. It will also be available on the OHA and White Sox websites. The White Sox are supporting NSTEP through a generous donation of hundreds of White Sox tickets for OHA program participants, and by working with NSTEP to share John Danks’ message through PSA and podcast messaging and in OHA’s educational materials.

DR. WILLIAM COVINGTON SUPPORTS OHA FOR 30 YEARS
Dr. William Covington of Richmond, VA, has been a practicing dentist for 45 years, deciding to go into the field after serving as a medic in the U.S. Air Force and meeting other dentists. After so many years practicing, he acknowledges the many changes the profession has gone through, but still enjoys treating patients.

“I enjoy today more than before because the pressures are off economically since my kids are all done with college. I’m here now because I want to be and I enjoy it,” Dr. Covington said.

Dr. Covington, who also teaches at the Medical College of Virginia (part of Virginia Commonwealth University), has been giving to Oral Health America for more than 30 years. Why has he maintained such a long relationship with OHA?  His reasons are simple. “I give mainly because the goals of the organization parallel the goals of general dentistry-promoting oral health care and general education. It makes it a no brainer.”

We think giving to OHA is a “no brainer,” too. Click here for more information about OHA’s programs and about how to make a gift. We sincerely thank Dr. Covington for his many years of support.

GIVE KIDS A SMILE SUPPORTERS GATHER IN CHICAGO TO PROMOTE DENTAL HOMES FOR

AMERICA’S CHILDREN

Dr. Darrell Clark, President of the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society Foundation; Ms. Melissa Hoebbel, Oral Health America; and Dr. Carlos Nurcko, President of the North Texas Hispanic Dental Association.

Melissa Hoebbel, OHA’s Smiles Across America Coordinator, spoke at the GKAS syposium “Raising the Momentum through  Continuity of Care” at the America Dental Association (ADA) on July 22-23, 2010.  She was joined by other awardees of the ADA Foundation’s Growth Grants, the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society’s Deamonte Driver Dental Project and the Hispanic Dental Association. OHA’s Beth Truett and Amanda Ciatti also attended with Smiles Across America partners from Chicago, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Read the press release here

GET READY FOR FALL FOR SMILES®!

How can you help spread the word about the importance of a healthy mouth? Participate in the Fall for Smiles® campaign, beginning in September, which is organized by OHA and Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait, an initiative of the Dental Trade Alliance.

Schools, companies, dental practices and community programs can get involved in a number of ways, including posting our Fall for Smiles web button (left) on your website, promoting the campaign in your newsletters, social networking sites and listservs, and sending a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to let your community know about the importance of self care, good nutrition, regular dental visits and tobacco avoidance in maintaining oral health.

How can we help you get started? Email Melissa Hoebbel, melissa@oralhealthamerica.org and we will send you campaign materials and assist you in reaching out to your community.
Thank you to our Fall for Smiles sponsors, Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait, Patterson Dental, Plackers dental flossers, Aspen Dental, GSK Consumer Healthcare, and Trident.

DENTAL SCHOOL PARTNERS RECOGNIZE ORAL HEALTH AMERICA’S MULTI-YEAR CONTRIBUTIONS

Oral Health America (OHA) was recently recognized by the West Virginia University (WVU) Foundation and New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) for its donations totalling over $200,000 since 2006 for the Smiles Across America® (SAA) programs established in partnership with each dental school.

“Such gifts help enable the University to fulfill its mission of public service and improve the general health and well-being of the public,” said Wayne King, CFRE, President and CEO of the WVU Foundation.
Pictured above: NYU College of Dentistry students and neighborhood children at a community health fair in lower Manhattan.
“The NYU College of Dentistry is very pleased to recognize Oral Health America’s Smiles Across America® program for generous grants for improved pediatric dentistry outreach care,” said Dr. Charles Bertolami, Dean of the NYU College of Dentistry.

GC AMERICA SUPPORTS OHA BASED ON MUTUAL GOALS

GC America (GCA) generously donates its Fuji Triage product to Smiles Across America® (SAA) partners and gives them the opportunity to purchase greatly discounted capsule mixers. Fuji Triage Ionomer Sealant makes tooth enamel stronger, more acid-resistant, offers a rechargeable fluoride release and is the only product that protects newly or partially erupted molars. OHA recently talked to John O’Neill, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GCA, about the company’s relationship with OHA.

John O’Neill, VP of Sales and Marketing, GC America.

OHA: Why did GC America decide to become involved with the Smiles Across America product donation project?

O’Neill: Glass ionomers, a product category that GCA is well known for, offers self bonding, moisture tolerant and excellent marginal seal. With our donation and our training of Fuji Triage, Smiles Across America® partners can have a minimally invasive approach to the preservation of newly erupted teeth that is both quick and effective.

OHA: Why does GC America support OHA’s mission?

O’Neill: GCA promotes prevention of decay and preservation of teeth, and as a minimally invasive-minded company and one who strives to educate the population on such techniques, it was a natural fit to support OHA whose programs seek the very same goal. It is the hope of both companies that this increased awareness of oral health will lead to better overall health in all patients.

We couldn’t have said it better.  Thank you GC America!

Contact Joseph Donohue, joe@oralhealthamerica.org, to find out how your company can get involved in OHA’s programs.

PLEASE HELP TO FUND CHILDREN’S DENTAL COVERAGE!

Did you know that important oral health provisions were included in the health care reform bill?  The Pew Children’s Dental Campaign estimates that 5.3 million more children could obtain dental coverage through the new insurance requirements.
Now, Congress must fund the dental provisions so that children can get the care they need.  If left unfunded, these relatively inexpensive, cost effective programs will never reach the children and families they were intended for.
Adopt-a-GrandparentContact your Senators today, and tell them that oral health care is not optional, and to fund the oral health provisions in health care reform.

Click here to access a template letter prepared by the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign that you can e-mail or mail to your senators.  (Feel free to change or add to the letter to highlight the needs and issues within your state.)

Contact information for members of Congress can be found here.

OHA TAKES TIME OUT FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING


OHA staff members met in New Buffalo, MI at the end of June for a two-day strategic and program planning retreat. Our goal? To ensure that our programs are on track and fullfilling our mission to change lives by connecting communities with resources to increase access to care, education and advocacy for all Americans, especially those most vulnerable.

Would you like to to know more? Become a “fan” on Facebook, or follow our Tweets at “Smile4Health”. Email Melissa Hoebbel, melisaa@oralhealthamerica.org to find out how you can become involved in our work.

Pictured above: Ben Anders, Intern; Beth Truett, President & CEO; Liz Rogers, Director of Communications & Public Affairs; Tony Stefanou, DMD, Associate Director of External Relations; Tom Mesich, Director of Finance; Amanda Ciatti, Manager, Program Research & Development; Melissa Hoebbel, Development & Communications Coordinator; Liz Tapp, Marketing Communications Coordinator; Joe Donohue, Associate Director, Individual & Corporate Development; Elaine Chan, Finance Assistant; (not pictured) Jennifer Gilbert, Communications Associate; Jessica Chatman, Administrative Assistant; Shiela Cotter, Database Associate.

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This email was sent to melissa@oralhealthamerica.org by info@ohasmiles.org.


Oral Health America | 410 N. Michigan Ave. Ste. 352 | Chicago | IL | 60611

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