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By Fred Michmershuizen, Online Editor NCOHF video raises awareness of pediatric dental disease Sullivan Schein were particularly helpful. Events like “Great Friday” come at a welcome time for many people. Many of the benefits of the new health care legislation won’t kick in for several more years, but even when they do dental care will still be unaffordable to many. So it’s no surprise that with the current state of the health-care sys- tem, such free care events, both large and small, are likely to con- tinue. For its part, RAM is planning to hold another free clinic Aug. 26 to 28 in Chicago, in response to that city’s large number of medically under- served people. “We are making a statewide plea for Illinois-licensed dentists, oph- thalmologists, optometrists, general medical physicians, nurses, dental hygienists and other medical spe- cialists,” the organization said in a recent press release. Currently licensed dentists in any state are invited to contact RAM to learn more about volunteering. Dental professionals may contact RAM at volunteer@ramfreeclinic.org or visit www.ramfreeclinic.org. DT News DENTAL TRIBUNE | May 20104 Visit us at the CDA Anaheim Booth #156 AD f DT page 3 Dr. John Hisel of Boise, Idaho, is one of the dentists who participated in a ‘Great Friday’ special event offering free dental care. To help raise awareness of the fight against pediatric dental disease, the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s Toothfairy (NCOHF) has released a public ser- vice announcement video as part of a continued effort against the No. 1 chronic childhood illness in the United States. The video — “America’s Tooth- fairy: Transforming Children’s Lives” — was produced to educate the gen- eral public about the prevalence of pediatric dental disease and highlight the measures that the NCOHF non- profit affiliate health-care facilities are taking to provide underserved chil- dren nationwide with compassionate, comprehensive oral health care. “Millions of children are suffering in silence from oral pain so severe that it impacts their ability to eat, sleep and learn on a daily basis,” said Fern Ingber, NCOHF president and CEO. “With access to basic preventive care and simple educational tools, pediatric dental disease is completely preventable. We hope this film will create a robust public dialogue sur- rounding our country’s oral-health epidemic and encourage increased support for nonprofit health-care cen- ters that work tirelessly with limited resources to eliminate this disease from future generations.” Two dental health-care professionals video offer their comments in the video. “Dental caries is still very much a disease, in fact it is the most com- mon chronic disease in childhood,” says Dr. J. Timothy Wright, professor and chair of pediatric dentistry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “Oral health is one of the leading causes of children not being in school.” Dr. Rocio Quinonez, clinical asso- ciate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, said, “We as a profession certain- ly share the same mission as the NCOHF, and that is to get to kids early enough so that we can not only prevent disease but change the trajec- tory of oral health and general health outcome.” “America’s Toothfairy: Transform- ing Children’s Lives” was produced by Emulsion Arts Film Production Co. with funding from DENTSPLY Inter- national, a dedicated NCOHF under- writer. The video may be viewed on the Dental Tribune website’s media cen- ter, located at mediacenter.dental- tribune.com. DT Children who have received care thanks to the efforts of the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s Toothfairy are featured in a new video. (Photo/Provided by NCOHF)