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Delta Dental Foundation Contributes to Toledo-Lucas County Health Department

$5,000 grant will assist in oral health education for school-aged children

OKEMOS, Mich., (May 21, 2007) – The Delta Dental Foundation (DDF), the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, recently donated $5,000 to the Toledo, Ohio-based Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. Nancy Hostetler, senior vice president of the DDF made the announcement.

The DDF donation will be used to fund The Basic Oral Health Education for School-Aged Children program. The Health Department’s Dental Sealant Program personnel will serve as providers of this program. The Sealant Program currently services 33 urban elementary schools, and through this new initiative, approximately 2,600 oral health information packets will be distributed to teachers, a basic oral hygiene packet will be provided to each student and an information card will be provided to parents on how to receive dental care if needed.

“We are confident the Delta Dental Foundation’s donation to the Health Department’s Basic Oral Health Education for School-Aged Children program will not only benefit the children, but the teachers and parents as well,” said Hostetler. “It’s important that children and their caregivers know how to care for their teeth correctly, and that a strong connection between oral health and overall health exists.”

David Grossman, M.D. and Toledo-Lucas County health commissioner, believes the community will greatly benefit from the oral hygiene packets, the information provided on the importance of preventive care and the dental resources available to receive affordable care.

“On a daily basis in our school-based dental programs, our dentists and hygienists see large numbers of children with significant oral health needs,” said Grossman. “We believe providing children with information about oral hygiene and nutrition will empower them to develop healthy habits that will continue throughout their lives.”

The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980 by Delta Dental of Michigan, which also operates Delta Dental of Ohio and Delta Dental of Indiana. The Foundation’s goals are to support education and research for the advancement of dental science and to promote the oral health of the public through education and service activities, particularly for those with special needs. For more information, visit www.deltadentalmmi.com.