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

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 oralhealthamerica/.


Oral Health America

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