(Charlotte, August 8, 2013) – With generous support from the KaVo Kerr Group, 3M ESPE and Heraeus Kulzer, National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy® (NCOHF) brought together leaders in the fields of medicine and dentistry for the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program® Summit. Hosted by the KaVo Kerr Group at their Learning Center in Anaheim, California from June 13-14, 2013, the summit focused on increasing community engagement in oral health promotion and strategies for breaking the cycle of pediatric dental disease. Attendees discovered how the implementation of America’s ToothFairy Signature Programs elevated the importance of oral health in their communities and encouraged the involvement of students, families, business leaders, educators, government officials, civic organizations as well as allied health professionals in children’s oral health promotion. Support for participating members of the America’s ToothFairy Affiliate Network of non-profit children’s oral health programs was provided by 3M ESPE and Heraeus Kulzer.
“The KaVo Kerr Group takes great pride in supporting National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy and hosting this important event uniting leaders for children’s oral health from throughout North America,” stated Todd Norbe, President, Kerr TotalCare, in his welcoming remarks. “Our team is so impressed with the various America’s ToothFairy Signature Programs and the enormous impact this organization has had in addressing children’s oral health issues.”
“We are very grateful to the KaVo Kerr Group for hosting the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit at their Learning Center in Anaheim. The leadership provided by Danaher Sr. Vice President and NCOHF Board member, Henk van Duijnhoven, combined with their tremendous support has expanded our ability to meet the need for children’s oral health services through innovative outreach and community engagement programs,” said Fern Ingber, NCOHF President & CEO. “Generous support from 3M ESPE and Heraeus Kulzer helped make it possible to bring together these champions for children’s oral health throughout the U.S. and Canada to identify ways to prevent the needless suffering caused by pediatric dental disease.” 
“As a longtime supporter, 3M ESPE is proud to sponsor the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit fostering a collaborative approach toward the development of innovative solutions designed to expand oral health service delivery and education for at-risk children.” noted Andrew Pietrobono, Regional Sales Director, 3M ESPE, in his opening remarks at the welcome reception hosted by 3M ESPE.
“Heraeus Kulzer was honored to partner with National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy for this event,” said Nicole Turner, Director of Marketing, Heraeus Kulzer. “The NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit inspires cooperation among all community stakeholders in the fight to eliminate the oral health crisis plaguing North America’s children.”
Speakers included Sean Boynes, DMD, Director of Dental Medicine, CareSouth Carolina; Linda Davis-Alldritt, MA, BSN, RN, President, National Association of School Nurses; Maria Dolce, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, North Eastern University; Thomas Engels, retired 3M Executive and NCOHF Board Member; Andrea Forsht, EdM, Grants & Programs Associate, DentaQuest Foundation; Fern Ingber, NCOHF President & CEO; Cherilyn Sheets, DDS, Sheets & Paquette Dental Practice and NCOHF Founding Chairman of the Board; and Rebecca Slayton, DDS, PhD, Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington and Chair, NCOHF Scientific Advisory Board and NCOHF Chief Dental Director.
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, known as America’s ToothFairy, was formed in 2006 as an aggressive response to eliminate pediatric dental disease by providing community programs with comprehensive resources to deliver vital educational, preventive, and treatment services to children most in need. Supporting the delivery of oral health education and care beginning at the prenatal level, America’s ToothFairy engages caring dental professionals and the general public in programs designed to promote children’s oral health. Through the generosity of dedicated supporters including the KaVo Kerr Group, 3M ESPE and Heraeus Kulzer, America’s ToothFairy has reached millions of children through its national non-profit clinical network and volunteer professional and student community service programs.
