3M ESPE, Delta Dental

ST. PAUL, Minnestota--The Minnesota Department of Health, with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, has announced that 3M ESPE and Delta Dental of Minnesota are helping support a new school-based sealant initiative.

The program will help improve the oral health of underinsured and uninsured children. The School-based Dental Sealant Program provides children in second grade with preventive dental services, including sealants, within the school at no cost to the school.

The 3M ESPE Dental Division is helping to make this program possible by donating materials for more than 7,000 dental sealants for at-risk children in Minnesota.

“Being a good corporate citizen has been part of our values from the very start of 3M as a company over 100 years ago,” said John Stefanick, director industry and professional relations, 3M ESPE. "Today, access to good oral care, especially for the underserved pediatric population, is a cause our dental division is particularly close to. We are happy to be able to help MDH in this truly important effort."

Delta Dental of Minnesota will donate $17,500 to seven metro and rural sites to provide preventive services for uninsured children that are eligible for the program. While the original Minnesota Department of Health program targets second-graders in an effort to collect statewide data on sealants, Delta Dental’s funding may be additionally used to provide other preventive dental services. This includes cleanings and fluoride treatments to uninsured children enrolled in other grades as well as Head Start programs.

“We are honored to be supporting the expansion of school-based care, particularly to uninsured children," said Ann Johnson, executive director, Delta Dental of Minnesota Trust and Director of Community Affairs. "We understand the impact of being underinsured or uninsured. Community based programs are cost-effective. Children receiving dental sealants in school-based programs have 60%t less decay for up to five years.”

Through this additional funding, sealants and preventive dental services can be offered to more students at participating schools and administered by a local dental hygienist and/or dental assistant.

The following organizations and programs are the recipients of support:

* Apple Tree Dental (Madelia region)
* Children’s Dental Health Services (Rochester/SE MN region)
* Children’s Dental Services (Holdingford, Faribault, Minneapolis Green School)
* Community Dental Care (St. Paul Charter School)
* Just Kids Dental (Northern MN region)
* Northern Dental Access Center (Bemidji region)

Children get cavities regularly, but few people realize tooth decay is the single most common childhood chronic disease. As a result, an estimated 1.6 million days of school time are lost every year due to oral diseases. Dental sealants on children’s permanent molar teeth can help prevent many of these cavities.

In use since the 1970s, dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are applied to the pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay. Dental sealants protect the tooth from germs that cause painful tooth decay, thereby preventing cavities from starting or spreading.

But as of 2010, one third of Minnesota third graders had no dental sealants on their molar teeth. This estimate is even higher for students of Hispanic ethnicity (43%), and students from lower-income families (58%).

To curb this disparity, the MDH supports the full range of evidence-based interventions such as those listed in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publication, “Guide to Community Preventive Services.” According to the findings, school-based dental sealant programs have been shown to reduce decay by up to 60%. This free resource guide can be viewed at www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html.

Young NASCAR fans to receive free dental treatment, education

The number of cavities that Minnesota’s children experience can be reduced with regular preventive care such as sealants, good tooth brushing, and proper diet.

“We appreciate the support from all of our funding partners to deliver preventive dental care to students in our community,” said, Sarah Wovcha, executive director, Children’s Dental Services. "This support will have an important impact on improving the oral health of students in our schools."

Ann Copeland, program director, Community Dental Care, added, “We are extremely pleased to help expand the program into some of St. Paul Charter Schools. Public private partnerships can collectively make a greater impact than if we try to provide services on our own.”

For more information, go to www.3mespe.com.

To comment on this topic, go to community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/.