(Charlotte, July 12, 2012) Leaders concerned with children’s health and welfare met in Charlotte on June 20-22, 2012 for the North American NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program® Summit to address the growing need for children’s oral health education and services. Hosted by Pelton & Crane/KaVo Americas, the North American NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit focused on new technologies, educational resources and strategies for breaking the cycle of pediatric dental disease in communities throughout North America. Travel accommodations for members of the NCOHF Affiliate network of nonprofit children’s community programs were provided by 3M ESPE.
Clinicians, educators and corporate leaders along with representatives from nonprofit community programs worked together to explore aggressive solutions to the #1 chronic childhood disease. Preventive strategies and methods of engaging community stakeholders in efforts to promote children’s oral health and channels for raising awareness of this epidemic affecting millions of children were addressed during the conference.“Pelton & Crane/KaVo were honored to partner with NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy to host this inaugural Oral Health Zone Summit. As a company, we recognize the critical importance of breaking the cycle of severe tooth decay and the devastating effects it has on children and their communities,” noted Matthew J. Reintjes, President, North American Dental Equipment, KaVo Group. “We applaud the leaders who were active participants in the summit as we all work together in support of the worthwhile mission of NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy.”
“3M ESPE was proud to support this summit that brought together champions for children’s health throughout North America,”stated John Stefanick, Director of Professional and Industry Relations, 3M ESPE Dental Division. “The NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit provided an excellent forum for sharing solutions for increasing access to comprehensive oral health services for those children most in need.”
Speakers included Michele Darby, BSDH, MS, Amos Deinard, Jr., MD, MPH, Thomas Engels, Carmen Fields, BA, MS, Fern Ingber, MEd, Thomas Prescott, Leo Rouse, DDS, FACD, and Rebecca Slayton, DDS, PhD. Attendees learned about educational resources designed to engage children in taking charge of their own oral health and promote preventive strategies such as the Hands-On Learning Lab from Susan Maples, DDS, and Toothfairy Island. Andrew Bonner, BS, MBA and Stanley Shepherd, Mb ChB, BSc from Instant Access Medical and Health One Global discussed innovative personal electronic health record technology. Summit participants also were informed about other signature NCOHF programs designed to elevate the importance of children’s oral health in their communities. These programs include Students United for America’s ToothFairy®, America’s ToothFairy Kids Club, Tomorrow’s SMILES® and the Esther Wilkins International Education Program.
“The goal of the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Summit was to support and inspire those working so diligently to improve children’s oral health outcomes,” commented Fern Ingber, MEd, NCOHF President and CEO. “The strategies, solutions and resources shared during the summit bring us one step closer to preventing the needless suffering of millions of children.”
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, known as America’s ToothFairy, was formed in 2006 in an aggressive response to eliminate pediatric dental disease by providing community programs with the comprehensive resources to deliver vital educational, preventive, and treatment services to children of the most vulnerable populations. Through the generosity of supporters like Pelton & Crane, KaVo Americas and 3M ESPE, NCOHF has delivered nearly $10 million in direct funding, donated dental products and educational resources to its non-profit Affiliate network and community programs throughout North America reaching millions of children with oral health services.
About KaVo Group
KaVo Group is a global affiliation of world class dental equipment brands that share the values of innovation, quality, exceptional customer service and market leading brands of relevance. KaVo Group brands represent nearly 400 years of innovation, quality and commitment to the dental community. The alliance more formally leverages the synergies of member companies including technology development, product integration, manufacturing, supply chain improvements and maximization of value to the dental professional. Member brands include KaVo, Pelton & Crane, Marus, DEXIS, Gendex, I-CAT, Instrumentarium and SOREDEX.
About 3M ESPE
3M ESPE manufactures and markets more than 2,000 products and services designed to help dental professionals improve their patients’ oral health care. 3M Health Care, one of 3M’s six major business segments, provides world-class innovative products and services to help health care professionals improve the practice and delivery of patient care in medical, oral care, drug delivery and health information markets. For more information on the complete 3M ESPE line of dental products visit the 3M ESPE Web site at www.3MESPE.com or call the 3M ESPE Technical Hotline at 1-800-634-2249. Products are available for purchase through authorized 3M ESPE distributors.
About National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy®
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy (NCOHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to raising awareness of the #1 chronic childhood illness: pediatric dental disease, facilitating the delivery of comprehensive oral health services and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations. NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy draws on vast national resources to secure and distribute product and financial donations along with innovative preventive programs to a growing network of university and community-based dental clinics, health centers, mobile and outreach programs throughout America. For more information about NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy, please visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org.
