National Dental Association and Tom Joyner join forces to promote oral health

The National Dental Association (NDA) partners with award-winning radio personality and community activist Tom Joyner for a signature health event on Oct. 19-20, 2012, for the year-long "Take A Loved One to the Doctor" (TALOTTD) campaign. The TALOTTD Health Festival will be held in Philadelphia at the Liacouras Center and feature an expo and live broadcast of Joyner’s nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show®. 100.3 WRNB. This health-focused festival offers attendees access to free oral exams and education on oral health.

The NDA™, based in Washington D.C., represents the priorities of more than 10,000 African American and minority dentists, as well as dental students, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and auxiliaries across the country. The National Dental Association mission speaks directly to providing access to dental service for underserved communities, and education and advocacy for its members. “The Take a Loved One to the Doctor” message will be carried on more than 105 stations, reaching 8 million listeners, when Joyner launches the event with a 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET live broadcast on site. Attendees will experience a live broadcast on Friday, Oct. 19 at 6 a.m., featuring Tom, Sybil Wilkes, J. Anthony Brown, Jacque Reid, and Roland Martin as well as national artist performances and interviews with today’s top health experts.

The National Dental Association has designated The New Era Dental Society, the NDA’s award-winning Philadelphia chapter, as its local host. The DENTAL ZONE will be designed under the leadership of NDA member dentists Drs. Joan Malcolm, Glenn Brown, Renee Dempsey, Arnelle Lloyd, and Charmen Douglas. The NDA local chapter has enlisted the support of NDA member dentists in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. The NDA also has engaged other community partners, including the Links, Incorporated, the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the Greater Philadelphia Health Centers, the Southern Jersey Medical Centers, and the Oral Health Academy.

The DENTAL ZONE will include mobile dental units and portable dentist chairs for screenings, a “Children’s Corner”, “Ask the Experts” kiosks with dentists, physicians, and pharmacists; free dental product donations, information for adults, oral cancer screenings, referrals to area providers, and special dental information for senior citizens and their caregivers.

NDA President-elect, Dr. Edward Chappelle, will participate in Tom Joyner’s Town Hall meeting, and stated, “The program is a tribute to the commitment of Tom Joyner to total health; and his awareness about the important link between oral health and overall health. The NDA is proud to be a part of this nationwide effort and to contribute to increasing dental health literacy in African American communities and vulnerable populations.”

National sponsors include the Alzheimer’s Association, Bayer, Crest, Denny’s, Legacy For Health, Novo Nordisk, NeighborWorks America, Susan G. Komen CIRCLE OF PROMISE, The Ohio State University Medical Center, and WalMart/Relion Prime.

For a full event schedule and to learn more about the health festival visit the TALOTTD microsite on BlackAmericaWeb.com.