CHCAGO (Oct. 18, 2012)—The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of general dentists as they strive to improve the oral health of the public, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.
Founded in 1972, the AGD Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the AGD—supports programs that offer dental care and oral health literacy to underserved populations, as well as educational programs that train general dentists to better serve the elderly, people with physical and mental disabilities, and children.
“The AGD Foundation was established to improve the oral health of the public and support the efforts of general dentists and the AGD,” says AGD Foundation President Paula S. Jones, DDS, FAGD. “We believe that oral health is directly related to overall health and that good oral health habits can improve a person’s quality of life.”
This past summer, the AGD and AGD Foundation hosted their third annual outreach project, “Nation of Smiles, One Smile at a Time,” during the AGD 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Philadelphia, providing nearly $150,000 worth of free dental care to 325 underserved Philadelphia residents.
The AGD Foundation also helps support local community outreach programs though the AGD Foundation Grant Program. In 2012, this program provided a total of $40,000 in grants to nine charitable organizations for their work with local access to care programs. For the past several years, the AGD Foundation also has teamed with Special Olympics Special Smiles® (SOSS) to identify general dentists who are willing to provide primary oral health care for Special Olympics athletes, their families, and caregivers.
“The AGD Foundation looks to continue its mission of funding quality access to care programs that provide much-needed oral health care services to people in need,” Dr. Jones says.
The AGD Foundation’s efforts are supported by individual and corporate donations. To donate, visit www.agd.org/agdf/contribution/contributionform.asp.
About the Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. AGD members stay up to date in their profession through a commitment to continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD is the second largest dental association in the United States, and it is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs. For more information about the AGD, visit www.agd.org.
About the AGD Foundation
The mission of the AGD Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the AGD, is to passionately support the efforts of the general dentist toward improving the oral health of the public.
