THOUSANDS ATTEND CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY AT LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER

- Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation; New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; and Hudson County Dental Society Join Forces to Educate Families that Good Oral Health Leads to Good Overall Health -

PARSIPPANY, NJ (March 15, 2010)

More than 3,000 children and adults attended the recent Children’s Dental Health Awareness Day at the Liberty Science Center, braving a windy, snowy assault by Mother Nature. The carnival-style program featured hands-on activities staffed by volunteers from the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation; the New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; and the Hudson County Dental Society, the sponsoring organizations. 

“Good oral health leads to good overall health,” was the key message of the event, held on Sunday, February 28, 2010.

Children’s Dental Health Awareness Day events were free with the price of a regular admission to the Liberty Science Center. Geared toward children of all ages from preschool through high school, the activities included a hands-on dental lab and an “Ask the Dentist” booth for parents and children. Teens and adults learned about the hazards of smoking and smokeless tobacco and the dangers of tongue piercing. In addition to other games and informational displays, there was an appearance by Delta Dental of New Jersey’s dental superhero, Captain Supertooth. 

“In support of our mission to promote oral health to the greatest number of people, Delta Dental is delighted to once again join the Liberty Science Center, the Hudson County Dental Society, and UMDNJ in our never-ending quest to bring education to life for children, their families and educators,” said Gene F. Napoliello, D.D.S., president, Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation.

“The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation has been educating children, parents and teachers about children’s dental health for more than 20 years. In schools, online, in the media and through grants that reach the underserved, we have helped thousands receive dental education, and that’s something to smile about,” added Napoliello. 

The event comes when oral health habits among America’s children are being questioned. A recent independent national study commissioned by the not-for-profit Delta Dental Plans Association revealed that home dental health care is still too often insufficient.¹ The study found that more than one-third (36 percent) of those surveyed admit that their child brushes his/her teeth less than twice a day. One-quarter of Americans say their child never flosses, and only 7 percent report that their child flosses daily. Almost half (44 percent) of Americans say their child has never used fluoride mouthwash or mouth rinse. 

“One of the underlying premises of Healthy People 2010 is the importance of the relationship between individual health and the health of the community in which the individual lives,” said Debra Goldsmith of New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Most common oral diseases can be prevented through a combination of community, professional and individual strategies, and our volunteers led interactive learning stations that educate the public about the importance of maintaining good oral health.”

“Since the Center was first conceived in the 1980s, health has been one of the three major topics that we address,” said Elizabeth Romanaux, senior communications consultant, Liberty Science Center. “The Children’s Dental Health Awareness Day was a natural way for us to help fulfill this mission. It’s so important for people to understand health issues, because it empowers them to make decisions to live better lives. Dental health is as important as the health of every other system in the body. We want people to take good care of their teeth so that they last a lifetime.”

David Gleaner, D.M.D., chairman of Children’s Dental Health Month for the Hudson County Dental Society, also noted, “For nearly 15 years, local dentists from the Hudson County area have enjoyed educating families at the Liberty Science Center about the merits of oral hygiene, as well as providing dental referrals, tooth brushing and flossing tips, and the opportunity for children to make thumbprints in tooth-impression material. The attending families offer such positive feedback regarding the educational value of the event that we look forward to returning each year.” 

Nearly two dozen Delta Dental of New Jersey employees volunteered for the event as part of the Corporate Volunteer Program. Associates are encouraged to become involved in their communities, lending their voluntary support to programs that positively impact the quality of life within these communities. They can achieve this through programs whose goals motivate them from a personal standpoint or by joining their colleagues in philanthropic or corporate-supported programs and initiatives. 

Recent corporate-supported efforts have included the Habitat for Humanity project at Willow Street; a health fair during Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month at the Liberty Science Center, Jersey City; the Winter Games for Special Olympics New Jersey; gardening, painting and maintenance at Employment Horizons, Cedar Knolls; and feeding the hungry and homeless at Eva’s Village, Paterson.

About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of New Jersey Inc. is New Jersey’s leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental system offers seamless dental benefits administration for employer groups throughout the country and has the largest network of dentists in the nation. For more information, visit www.deltadentalnj.com.

About Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation
Delta Dental established the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation in 1986. Its mission includes promoting and assisting educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, providing research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good health and improving dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation provides financial support to various organizations throughout the state.