Oral
Health America
Oral Health America is a national oral health
advocacy organization whose mission is to increase
public awareness of oral health's importance to total
health. Oral Health America established the Smiles
Across America program in 2004 to provide preventive
dental care to uninsured children in school-based
settings. Smiles Across America was established as a
direct response to the messages of the Surgeon General's
Report on Oral Health in America (2000) and the Call to
Action to Promote Oral Health in America (2003).
The program works by
linking local non-profits, school districts, health care
organizations, government agencies, businesses, and
funders with oral health care providers that are
fighting untreated oral disease in uninsured and
underserved children in schools and other community
settings. Smiles Across America has expanded to several
other states and major metropolitan cities in the United
States.
In 2005 Smiles Across
America expanded to Minnesota, starting in the
Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts.
In 2006, Smiles Across
Minnesota coalition and advisory committee was
formed as a volunteer group of concerned individuals and
organizations with a mission to promote oral health
awareness and improve systems to deliver oral health
services to all Minnesota children.
Smiles Across
Minnesota
Dental disease is the most chronic disease among
children in Minnesota and is largely preventable; the
work of the Smiles Across Minnesota coalition is to
focus its efforts on furthering preventive strategies.
The coalition works together to support access to
preventive dental treatment to uninsured and underserved
Minnesota children and conduct outreach and education.
Smiles Across Minnesota promotes and supports school and
community-based initiatives addressing cost effective
primary and secondary oral health solutions.
Smiles Across
Minnesota – Duluth
The Smiles Across Minnesota expansion into Duluth began
in 2007 with an agreement between Children's Dental
Services (CDS) and the Duluth Public School Board.
Starting in late-January 2008, CDS will employ a Duluth
hygienist to provide basic preventive dental services,
such as cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatment to
underserved and uninsured children in Duluth Public
Elementary Schools and Head Start Centers. United Way of
Greater Duluth has worked closely with Smiles Across
Minnesota to engage local partners and to generate the
necessary additional resources to launch this program in
Duluth.
