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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, Department of Health Services, (608)
266-1683
Bob Walker, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, (800) 236-3713
Children’s Dental Program Gets
Boost to Help Prevent Decay
Seal-A-Smile Program Gets Federal Grant, Matching Dollars from Delta
Dental
MADISON - Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Karen
Timberlake announces that Wisconsin’s Seal-A-Smile program is receiving
more than $1.3 million in public and private funds to help provide
preventive dental services for children.
“Too many children are going without the basic dental care they need,
which is crucial to their overall health and success,” says Department
Secretary Karen Timberlake. “If a child’s tooth hurts, she may not be
able to eat – or he may not be able to concentrate in school. Parents
and children tell us these types of stories from across our state, and
these funds will truly help make a difference.”
The Department will receive $275,000 each year for the next three years
from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to
support the Seal-A-Smile program. In addition to the HRSA funds, Delta
Dental of Wisconsin will be donating $240,000 per year for the next two
years. This totals $1.3 million in new grants for the Seal-A-Smile
program.
“Delta Dental has long advocated sealants as part of the coverage
offered under our group dental insurance plans we offer. We also have a
history of providing charitable grants to organizations that have made
sealants more available to economically disadvantaged children,” says
Dennis Brown, President and CEO of Delta Dental.
Dental sealants are thin coatings that are applied to teeth to protect
them from tooth decay by keeping the germs and food particles that can
cause tooth decay out of the grooves of the back teeth. Dental decay is
the number one chronic disease of childhood, particularly among low-income
children who often do not have access to a dentist.
“There’s no question that sealants are among the most effective
tools that dentists have to prevent tooth decay and preserve good oral
health,” says Dr. Fred Eichmiller, Vice President and Science Officer of
Delta Dental. “That in turn leads to a significant reduction in
long-term costs.”
The $1.3 million in grant funds will be distributed to community-based
programs that offer sealant programs by using a competitive process. A
Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued earlier in the month and
applications are due October 31st. Funds will be awarded to those programs
which target children at highest risk for tooth decay. Funds will also be
available for community-based oral health programs. The RFP process will
be complete by the end of the year and funds will be available to local
programs in early 2010.
“We all want our children to grow up healthy. The Department has
routinely applied for grant funding and I’m pleased we were able to
include their efforts in our state budget. We also appreciate the extra
assistance from Delta Dental. In these difficult state budget times, it’s
so important that we combine our efforts to help serve more people,”
says Senator Julie Lassa, who included the grant in the budget.
Seal-A-Smile information: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/Oral_Health/Programs/SealASmile.htm.
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Last Revised: October 26, 2009 |
