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Press Releases
Recent News & Announcements 07/07/10 - Children with Special Needs Receive Special Care through NCOHF [see more] 09/23/08 - Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County 5th Annivesary Celebration "Endless Summer, Endless Smiles" [see more] 02/27/08 - Leaders honored while event raises $50,000 to support dental care for Orange County children [see more] Archived News & Announcements 09/23/07 - Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to fluoridate drinking water [see more] 09/21/07 - Water Agency to fluoridate drinking water, OC Register [see more] 09/18/07 - Jerry Mandel heats up the night for Healthy Smiles [see more] 07/17/07 - National Children's Oral Health Foundation Announces $529,000 in Grant Awards [see more] 06/23/07 - Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation Establishes $20 Million Initiative to Combat Tooth Decay [see more] 05/31/07 - Denti-Cal Facts and Figures: A Look at California's Medicaid Dental Program [see more] 05/01/07 - Healthy Smiles Leaders in Oral Health Luncheon Awards in Orange Coast Magazine [see more] 04/20/07 - Dr. Nam Lam Named Recipient of the 2006 David Lawrence Community Service Award [see more] 04/13/07 - El Sol preschoolers have something new to smile about [see more] 04/04/07 - Children and Families Commission of Orange County Establishes Program to Enhance Children's Dental Health [see more] 02/28/07 - 12-year-old Maryland boy dies from tooth abscess [see more] 02/28/07 - Harris Done presented the Mungo Leadership in Children's Oral Health Award [see more] 12/06/06 - $3 Million Allocated To Successful Children's Dental Program [see more] 11/15/06 - 12th Annual Report on the Condition of Orange County's Children is released [see more] 08/08/06 - HSK Hires Manager of Outreach & Education [see more] 06/18/06 - HSK's ". . . And All That Jazz" featured in the Orange County Register [see more] 03/01/06 - HSK Dental Director Dr. Kevin Hszieh featured in Dental Economics Magazine [see more] 02/06/06 - Statewide Survey Shows Orange County Children Have More Tooth Decay Than Kids in the Rest of California [see more] 11/01/05 - The Children's Health & Dental Center Opens to the Public [see more] 10/25/05 - 3M makes donation to support Tooth Fairy Learning Center [see more] 07/26/05 - National Kids Day Celebration Marks Grand Opening of the Children's Health & Dental Center [see more] 07/15/05 - Healthy Smiles Hires Two New Directors [see more]
Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County 5th Annivesary Celebration "Endless Summer, Endless Smiles"
09/23/2008 Orange County - Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County celebrated their 5th Anniversary with a fundraiser Endless Summer, Endless Smiles. A day of family, friends, fun and fundraising which included live music from The Breakaways and an assortment of hands-on children's activities. Held on Sunday, September 14th at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach - Amphitheater and Lawn, honored the Children & Families Commission funded partners, the heroes from organizations who collaborate with Healthy Smiles to fulfill our mission of improving the state of children's oral health in our community; CHOC, El Sol Science and Arts Academy, School Readiness Nurses, MOMS Orange County, Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics, Homeless Shelters, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove who have been "Heroes for Oral Health". Healthy Smiles raised just over $69,000 to help support pediatric oral health services for children in Orange County at the Healthy Smiles Smile Center, the Smile Clinic at CHOC, the SmileMobile and community outreach programs. The surf-themed event featured exciting activities such as Captain Carl's Mobile Tide Pool, face painting by Oasis Arts, sand art, tile painting, games by Eric Miles and the Tooth Fairy Learning Center booth where kids learned about oral health. Adults enjoyed samplings from Hope Wine, a silent auction and live beach music by The Breakaways. Endlesss Summer, Endless Smiles was supported with Program Support from Hoag Hospital, Hang Ten Sponsors, Kaiser Permanante, Wells Fargo, Five Toes on the Nose Sponsor Project Access, Body Surfer Sponsors, 3M ESPE, The California Endowment, The Richard and Kristin Mungo Family, Northern Trust, Gary Van Arnam, Skim Boarder Sponsors, CHOC, The Lam Family, Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, SafeGuard Dental & Vision, A MetLife Company, The Shaw Group, St. Joseph's Hospital Boogie Boarder Sponsors, Sandra Bolton, Bonne, Bridges, Muller, O'Keefe & Nichols, CalOPTIMA, Harris Done DDS, Elizabeth Dunne, Kevin Hszieh DDS, Cherilyn Sheets DDS & Mark Moehlman, Team Up for Down Syndrome, Universal Specialty Vehicles, Feizal Waffarn MD, Frank Yorita DDS. Thanks to the dedicated event committee including Ingela Baath, Bita Bagheri MD, Sue Brown RN, Ann Browning, Monique Daviss, Brenda Deeley, Georgina Gentner, Kim Goll, Tiffany Goodman, Gary Grady, Kathy Kolodge RN, Paula Lopez, Kate Mossbarger, Diana Ornalez, Kelly Pijl, Barry Ross, April Rudge, Yvonne Sanders, Michele Silva, Marta Tooma DDS, Gary Van Arnam, All proceeds benefit prevention, education, and treatment programs to improve the oral health of children in Orange County and decrease the staggering disparity in access to care. Download the full Press Release >> [PDF file] Return to Top Leaders honored while event raises $50,000 to support dental care for Orange County children
02/27/2008 Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County's awards reception, YOUR SMILE MATTERS: An Evening Honoring Leaders in Oral Health was a tremendous success with net proceeds just over $50,000 - a 78% increase over last year's event. Celebrating the culmination of National Children's Dental Health Month and highlighting the need for better access to oral health care for kids in Orange County, over 200 guests attended the 3rd Annual event benefiting the USC/CHOC/Healthy Smiles Advanced Pediatric Dental Residency Program, a program founded with support from the Children & Families Commission of Orange County. Event Chair Marla Merhab Robinson and Board President Gary Van Arnam welcomed community leaders to the event held at the Discovery Science Center on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Rex Hudler, Broadcaster for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, served as Master of Ceremonies to present awards to the honorees. He also introduced Jesus, a sweet 5-year-old boy with Downs syndrome whose life changed when he was given the gift of a healthy smile. Guests also enjoyed tours of the new state-of-the-art SmileMobile mobile dental clinic, funded by Pacific Life Foundation to increase access to dental care for uninsured and underinsured children. 2008 Leadership in Children's Oral Health Awards Recipients: - Wanda Claro, DDS, MS - Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist who is volunteer faculty and recipient of the Richard P. Mungo, DDS Leadership in Children's Oral Health Award.
- 3M ESPE was recognized for their invaluable contributions to support children's oral health, including the recent sponsorship of the National Museum of Dentistry's MouthPower® exhibit visiting the Discovery Science Center February - April 2008.
- Dottie Andrews received an award for her development of Healthy Smiles' initial business plan and her community program development expertise in the area of maternal-child health.
All proceeds benefit the USC/CHOC/Healthy Smiles Advanced Pediatric Dental Residency Program. Developed through the leadership and support of the Children & Families Commission of Orange County, this program is the first of its kind in the county and enables pediatric dental students to concentrate on the dental care of very young children and those with special healthcare needs. This collaboration is designed to decrease the staggering disparity in access to care among Orange County children. Event Supporters - Program Support: Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
- Platinum Level: Angels Baseball Foundation, Kaiser Permanente
- Silver Level: Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, The Dental Trader, Bruce Carter, Mark & Donna Merhab, Richard P. Mungo, DDS, Northern Trust, Gary Van Arnam.
- Bronze Level: Rex & Jennifer Hudler's Team Up for Down Syndrome, Merhab Robinson & Jackson, Marla Merhab Robinson, Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital
- Patron Level: Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O'Keefe & Nichols, Commerce National Bank, Deloitte, Rick Rayson, Harris Done, DDS, Nam Ky Lam, MD, MBA, SafeGuard Dental & Vision, John C. (Jack) Shaw & Ellen Shockro, PhD, The Turnip Rose, Frank Yorita, DDS.
- Special Thanks: The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, Discovery Science Center, Entertainment Concepts, Thomas J. Griffin & Larry R. Nelson, Jennifer & Rex Hudler, Yassaman Kermanj, Carol Kiessig, Kirkland Digital, Dean Kirkland, Los Angeles Kings, Marla Merhab Robinson, National Museum of Dentistry, Patina Restaurant Group, The Shaw Group, John C. (Jack) Shaw, Unique Awards.
Return to Top Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to fluoridate drinking water in order to prevent tooth decay
09/23/2007 Beginning in late 2007, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) will add fluoride to our drinking water in order to prevent tooth decay. The MWD will follow State and Federal public health recommendations to increase the natural fluoride level in our water supply to a level that is optimal for dental health. While the water supply in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley has been fluoridated for a number of years, most of Orange County's drinking water has not previously been fluoridated to optimal levels. Once fluoridation has started, local water systems will test their water to determine the actual level of fluoridation being provided to water customers. This information is provided to the State of California (see California Department of Public Health link below) and is posted on a state website for the public's information. Information on fluoride levels can also be requested from your local water supplier. A number of resources are available to answer the public's questions about fluoridation of drinking water. These resources can be found on the websites listed below... Metropolitan Water District >> California Department of Public Health >> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention >> American Dental Association >> Return to Top MWD to fluoridate Chemical credited with preventing tooth decay will be added to about half O.C.'s supplies.
by Adam Townsend, The Orange County Register, 09/21/2007 Orange County residents, especially children, can expect healthier teeth and fewer cavities over the coming years, water officials say. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is bringing its system up to par with other regions with its decision to add fluoride to Southern California's water supply. The MWD will start bringing fluoridation systems online at its five massive filtration plants over five weeks starting next month. One of those is the Robert B. Diemer Plant in Yorba Linda, which supplies about half of Orange County's water; it will start introducing fluoridated water into the system Nov. 19... [full story] Return to Top Jerry Mandel heats up the night for Healthy Smiles September 18, 2007, Garden Grove, California - Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County (Healthy Smiles) 2nd annual Jazz fundraiser, Hot Havana Night, raised over $100,000 in net proceeds to help change the lives of children in Orange County. The evening was an incredible success with over 175 guests enjoying themselves in the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. An intimate evening of friends, fun and fundraising on Saturday September 8th, the night included a live performance by The Jerry Mandel Jazz Band, as well as salsa dancing, mojitos, tapas, and a live and silent benefit auction. The Cuban-theme was vibrant thanks to colorful original artwork on loan from Cuban artist Viredo. With the help of generous sponsors, donors, guests, and 100% Board participation, Healthy Smiles raised critical funds to increase access to pediatric oral health services for children in Orange County. Programs benefiting from event proceeds include: - Restorative dental care, including IV or oral sedation for children with severe dental decay or for children with special needs such as autism or cerebral palsy
- Expanding prevention efforts through the Seals on Wheels program for education and sealants
- SmileMobile dental clinics at school based sites with a new mobile dental unit
- Field trips at the Tooth Fairy Learning Center for prevention and nutrition education
Hot Havana Night was supported by Bongo Sponsor Kaiser Permanente, and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian offered support for programs & services. Timbale Sponsors Foundation for Social Resources, Resources Global Professionals, Don Murray and Wells Fargo. Cuatro Sponsors 3M ESPE, Eric Feldhaus, Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, The California Endowment, The Dick & Kris Mungo Family, Northern Trust, Gary Van Arnam, Obstetrix Medical Group of Southern California, and Joe & Annette Oltmans. Maraca Sponsors include Dr. Leslie Jane Aspis, Robert Coveney, The Lam Family, Jerry & Whitney Mandel, SafeGuard Dental & Vision, Jack Shaw & Ellen Shockro, Ph.D., and Universal Specialty Vehicles, Inc. Event chairwoman, Marta Tooma, D.D.S. worked tirelessly with a dedicated committee including Ingela Baath, Jerri Brown, Jessica Calvillo, Belinda de la Libertad, Terry Goldfarb-Lee, Jerry Mandel, Ph.D., Manuel Porto, M.D.; Maggie Rodriguez, Gary Van Arnam, and Lori Vigoren. All proceeds benefit Healthy Smiles prevention, education, and treatment programs to improve the oral health of children in Orange County and decrease the staggering disparity in access to care. Return to Top The National Children's Oral Health Foundation Announces $529,000 in Grant Awards for Critical Oral Healthcare Initiatives for Economically Disadvantaged Children
07/17/2007 Charlotte, NC July 13, 2007. The National Children's Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) recently awarded grants totaling $529,000 to 14 not-for-profit community, university, and hospital-based dental programs nationwide. These facilities are members of NCOHF's national oral health Affiliate Network and are dedicated to delivering comprehensive oral health treatment and preventive educational services to millions of children and their families ... Download the full story >> [PDF file] Return to Top Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation Establishes
$20 Million Initiative to Combat Tooth Decay
06/23/2007 The Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation has announced a five-year, $20 million initiative aimed at improving the health of vulnerable children in the state by expanding access to oral health care services. Initial funding will be used to deliver oral-health services, increase the number of oral-health professionals caring for underserved children, and create a greater awareness of the role oral health plays in a child's overall health and well-being by building the capacity of the safety-net system that serves vulnerable children throughout Illinois. The foundation will offer qualifying, nonprofit service providers up to $3 million to either add new oral health services or expand existing oral health services for children. A chronic infectious disease, tooth decay is five times as common as asthma and seven times as common as hay fever. Studies have found that 55 percent of Illinois third-graders have some tooth decay and 30 percent have significant decay. The condition is even more prevalent among children from low-income families; 64 percent of third-graders in Illinois' free/reduced-price lunch program have tooth decay, compared with 46 percent of those not in the program. "Children who suffer from dental disease have difficulty eating, sleeping, interacting with classmates, and learning," said ILCHF chairman Dr. Peter E. Doris. "Tooth decay is a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can have serious implications to overall health. While Illinois has made great strides, there is still much to be done. We believe this initiative can have a profound impact on the health of children statewide." Original article at Philanthropy News Digest >> Return to Top Denti-Cal Facts and Figures:
A Look at California's Medicaid Dental Program
05/31/2007 Oral health is essential to overall health and quality of life. Left untreated, dental diseases can result in severe pain and infection, an inability to perform daily activities, and in very rare cases, death. In California, Medi-Cal beneficiaries – especially children and pregnant women – face considerable obstacles in obtaining dental services, despite having dental coverage. This presentation provides an overview of California's Medicaid dental program, known as Denti-Cal. It highlights key statistics and trends related to access, utilization, expenditures, and providers. The findings document a generally low use of dental services by all Medi-Cal beneficiaries, especially children under 6, pregnant women, and seniors. About one quarter of Medi-Cal beneficiaries under age 12 have never been to a dentist. Other key findings include: - Denti-Cal is the primary public financer of dental care for some 8.5 million low-income, aged, and disabled Californians;
- Medi-Cal dental provider reimbursement rates are among the lowest in the nation, and are significantly below the fees charged by most dentists;
- Largely because of these low rates, only 40% of California’s private dentists accept Medi-Cal dental reimbursement and the vast majority of these are general practitioners rather than pediatric or orthodontic specialists; and
- While research suggests that serious gum disease is associated with premature birth and low birth weight, as recently as 2004, only one in five pregnant Medi-Cal beneficiaries had a dental visit.
The complete presentation is available under Document Downloads below. Original article at California healthcare Foundation >>
Denti-Cal Facts and Figures: A Look at California's Medicaid Dental Program >> [PDF file]
Denti-Cal Facts and Figures: County Data Appendix >> [PDF file] Return to Top 05/01/2007 | 
See PDF >>
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| Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County presented four Leaders in Children's Oral Health awards at a luncheon benefiting the USC/CHOC Healthy Smiles Pediatric Dental Residency Program held at the Diamond Club in Angel Stadium. Accepting the award for the Angels Baseball Foundation was keynote speaker and board member Doug DeCinces, right. Also in attendance were Mark Merhab, attorney Marla Robinson, and Healthy Smiles Director Sandra Bolton. | Return to Top Dr. Nam Lam Named Recipient of the 2006 David Lawrence Community Service Award
04/20/2007 The Board of Directors of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals announced that Dr. Nam Ky Lam, Pediatrics, Brea Medical Office, is the individual winner of the 2006 Annual David M. Lawrence, MD Community Service Award. This award is in recognition of Dr. Lam’s efforts in Orange County to improve the access to and quality of dental care for vulnerable children throughout Orange County. Download the full story >> [PDF file] Return to Top El Sol preschoolers have something
new to smile about
04/13/2007 Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County was awarded a $12,500 grant from the Orange County Community Foundation's Invest in Children Fund. This fund was established with support from Paul and Lilly Merage and The Orange County Children & Families Commission. The grant will help Healthy Smiles provide preventative dental care to all El Sol Science and Arts Academy Preschool students and their siblings. Download the full story >> [PDF file] Return to Top Children and Families Commission of Orange County Establishes Program to Enhance Children's Dental Health
04/20/2007 As part of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County's goal of increasing access to children's dental services in Orange County, today the Commission approved funding guidelines that will assist resident dentists who provide service to children up to age 5. The program will focus on working with pediatric dentists and dental anesthesiologists from local dental school programs such as USC, UCLA and Loma Linda University. See full story on OCChildrenandFamilies.org >>
Download the full story >> [PDF file] Return to Top 12-year-old Maryland boy dies from tooth abscess
02/28/2007 Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache. A routine, $80 tooth extraction might have saved him... if his mother had been insured. By the time Deamonte's aching tooth got any attention, the bacteria from the abscess had already spread to his brain. Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County extends its condolences and prayers to Deamonte's friends and family. Washington Post story >>
ABC News story >>
MSNBC Video >> Return to Top Harris Done presented the Mungo Leadership in Children's Oral Health Award
02/28/2007 Part time faculty member and director of USCSD's AYUDA clinic, Harris Done, was honored with the Richard P. Mungo D.D.S. Leadership in Children's Oral Health award in February by Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. The award, named for Healthy Smiles' medical director and pediatric dentist at Children's Hospital Orange County, was presented to Done for his leadership and advocacy of oral health for children and seniors in the Orange County area. Read the full story at http://www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/update/april07/IN_BRIEF.html Return to Top $3 Million Allocated To Successful Children's Dental Program
12/06/06 The Children and Families Commission of Orange County approved an additional $3 million through 2010 to fund Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. This makes for a total contribution exceeding $6 million. The program provides pediatric dental prevention programs and services to children in Orange County. In addition to Commission funded services, Healthy Smiles is the host site for the new USC School of Dentistry's pediatric dental residency program, which will train new dentists to serve young children. See full story on OCChildrenandFamilies.org >>
Download the full story >> [PDF file] Return to Top 12th Annual Report on the
Condition of Orange County's Children is released 11/15/06 This 12th Annual Report features a special section on the
Oral Health of Orange County's Children highlighting the findings of the Smile Survey and other data
collected in Orange County.
The report is available at www.ochealthinfo.com/cscc/report HSK Hires Manager of Outreach and Education
8/8/06 Healthy Smiles announces their newest staff member, Ambrocia Lopez, MA. She has been hired as the Manager of Education and Outreach and is responsible for the educational curricula, recruitment, supervision of oral health community outreach workers and volunteers who provide health promotion to children and their families. Lopez grew up in an impoverished Latino neighborhood in Santa Ana. Despite all the obstacles that she faced, due to her socioeconomic status, she was able to obtain a college education with the help of community resources. She obtained a Masters of Education from the University of California, Irvine. Lopez is inspired to improve her community because she knows the needs of the community. Her ultimate goal is to help improve her community through access to health care and education. Prior to joining Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, Lopez worked for the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics as the Health Policy Analyst. In her role, she advocated for the uninsured and underinsured patients who received services from the community clinics. Return to Top HSK's "...And All That Jazz" featured in Orange County Register 6/18/06
Download full story Return to Top HSK Dental Director Dr. Kevin Hszieh featured in
Dental Economics Magazine 3/01/06 
Read full article
Return to Top STATEWIDE SURVEY SHOWS ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN HAVE MORE TOOTH DECAY THAN KIDS IN REST OF CALIFORNIA By age five, one in three Orange County children have visible untreated decay Orange County – An alarming survey released today by Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County found that 33.3% of children in Orange County – ONE IN EVERY THREE -- have visible untreated decay compared to the state average of 27.9%. "Tooth decay is an infectious, progressive and transmissible disease that affects even our youngest children, robbing them of their opportunity for success in school, in social activities and in life," said Richard Mungo, D.D.S., M.S.D., M.Ed.; Pediatric Dentist; Past President, California Society for Pediatric Dentistry; Board of Directors, Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. "A healthy mind begins with a healthy body. Children must be able to concentrate and interact in order to successfully learn but oral pain and infection make this impossible. A child with tooth decay has difficulty eating, sleeping, and achieving." The Orange County Smile Survey is a subset of the Dental Health Foundation Statewide Survey, also being released today. The Orange County survey was conducted by Seals on Wheels and Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County by surveying approximately 2,400 kindergarten and third grade students in 25 elementary schools countywide during the 2004-2005 school year. The survey found that by third grade, more than 70% of our children experienced decay. Of those children with visible decay, 4% had abscesses, inflammation or pain – this equates to almost 3000 children countywide who are in classrooms with infections and pain. "Dental problems, including abscesses and pain are, unfortunately, too common even in our preschoolers. We see many lost days from school because of dental disease. Our families are very anxious to get care for their children but just cannot afford the cost or cannot find or get to providers who will treat their children," Susan Biegel, RN; School Nurse, Ocean View School District. The survey showed that Latino children, regardless of income level, were at a disproportionately higher risk for dental health problems. Of the Latino children surveyed in the County 75.3% had experienced decay, while 47.5% had untreated decay – more than twice the rates for "white" children and 17.3% greater than children falling into the "other" category. The survey also found that children are not going to the dentist at the recommended age. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that children see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than his/her first birthday. Of the children surveyed, 17% of kindergarteners and more than 5% of third graders had never been to the dentist, leaving them at a significantly higher risk for decay. "It is imperative that families understand the need for early and periodic preventative care by a dentist," stated Dr. Mungo, "It is also important to establish a ‘dental home' so that if a parent notices a possible problem, or if a child falls and harms his mouth, the parents will know exactly where to go to seek help from friendly people who already know their family and the child." In addition to the oral health status of children, the study also surveyed the barriers that families experience in accessing dental care. While tooth decay proved to be a problem for all children regardless of income or ethnicity, children who were poor were more likely to have decay. Using the Free and/or Reduced Price Lunch Program as an indicator of income level, 42.4% of children eligible for the program had untreated decay, compared to 33.2% of children ineligible for reduced lunches. It was also found that a lack of dental insurance can have a profound impact on children's dental heath. Of the children surveyed that had untreated decay, 45.8% had no dental insurance, 38.8% had government insurance such as Healthy Families or Medi-cal and 30.1% had private insurance. For every child who does not have health insurance in Orange County there are two who do not have dental insurance, leaving approximately 80,000 low-income children without dental insurance. To address this problem, The Children's Health Initiative seeks to help enroll, retain, and provide premium support for these uninsured children in Orange County. Many diseases affect children, but tooth decay is one that is almost entirely preventable. Seals on Wheels, a school-based oral health organization, provides preventative dental services including screenings, sealants, health education (parent and child) and referral for treatment for economically disadvantaged children in Orange County. "We are very excited about the new public/private collaborations that are developing to address oral health. We are happy to see the positive effects of our program as shown by the increased incidence of preventative sealants in our third grade students," said Jo Jass; Executive Director, Seals on Wheels. Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County and other community organizations such as the Coalition of Community Clinics endeavor to increase access to dental services to children. "We have all the tools we need right now to eradicate this terrible disease; however safety net clinics in Orange County, including our own, are only able to provide a fraction of the dental treatment services that are needed by the children in this county. There simply are not enough resources to treat all the disease. We must look to prevention," said Sandra Bolton, RN, JD; Executive Director, Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. "Prevention is much more than brushing teeth. It is a societal commitment to public health surveillance, to integration with primary care medicine, to early and periodic visits with a dentist for risk assessment, counseling and preventative interventions. Dental health must be part of the public policy agenda. We can prevent tooth decay. We can help our Orange County kids now!" Download the Orange County Smile Survey >>
Download the California Smile Survey >> Return to Top The Children's Health & Dental Center Opens to the Public 11/01/05 
Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove and the Children and Families Commission of Orange County celebrate the opening of the Children's Health & Dental Center in Garden Grove on November 1, 2005. Return to Top 3M donates $18,000 to support Tooth Fairy Learning Center 10/25/05 Garden Grove, CA,– 3M ESPE, a division of 3M Health Care, presented Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County (Healthy Smiles) a check for $18,000 in support of prevention and education programs at The Tooth Fairy Center, a hands-on oral health learning center for children. The check was presented by 3M ESPE's Irvine Customer Service Manager Georgina Gentner and Manufacturing Manager Eric Feldhaus on October 25, 2005 to Healthy Smiles' Executive Director Sandra Bolton. The Tooth Fairy Learning Center is an interactive, hands-on learning center offering educational experiences for children and families in areas of hygiene, science, nutrition and literacy. This program is part of a new national program to employ a children's museum-like environment to instill in children and their families the knowledge base to make positive changes in their overall health through education and participatory activities. "With the support of 3M ESPE, families will be able to learn lifestyle behaviors that will improve their oral health and overall well-being," commented Bolton, "Dental decay is a devastating problem in our community. Approaching the problem from a prevention modality will allow Orange County to grow children who are ready to learn and take their place in the workplace." In addition to the $18,000 check, 3M ESPE donated approximately $19,000 worth of dental supplies and equipment to support clinical services. Healthy Smiles will in turn donate a large portion of those supplies to other community dental clinics in Orange County. 3M ESPE manufactures and markets more than 2,000 products and services designed to help dental professionals improve their patients' oral health care. 3M ESPE is a division of 3M Health Care, the largest of seven major 3M businesses, which is dedicated to improving the practice, delivery and outcome of care in the medical, dental, pharmaceutical, health information and personal care markets. Return to Top National Kids Day Celebration Marks Grand Opening of the Children's Health & Dental Center 07/26/05 Orange, CA, – Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Children and Families Commission of Orange County, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), City of Garden Grove and Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County will come together to celebrate the relationship between parents and children in honor of National Kids Day at the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove on Saturday, August 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Research has shown that there is a link between parents spending quality time with kids and the issues facing youth. Many times parents don't have the time, skills, or resources to do so. The event will bring the community together to enjoy free entertainment, children's activities, tours of the new Children's Health and Dental Center and receive information about community resources for families. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is scheduled to attend. Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Kids Peace created National Kids Day (NKD) in 2001 to foster stronger relationships between adults and children by educating them on the importance and value of spending meaningful time together. The daily pressures of modern life, regardless of economic status, ethnicity, cultural background or location, take a toll on interactions. The pressures directly affect the amount of positive quality time parents are able to devote to their children. The event will be held with the collaboration of Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Children & Families Commission of Orange County, City of Garden Grove & Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. Return to Top Healthy Smiles Hires Two New Directors 07/15/05 Santa Ana- Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, an Orange County non-profit, has hired Diane Limbo, RN, CPNP; and Andrew Messer to fill two director positions within the growing organization. Diane Limbo, a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, has been hired as the Director of Health Integration. In her position Limbo will be working on educational oral health issues including having pediatricians integrate children's oral health examinations into a child's regular well care visit Limbo comes to Healthy Smiles after 4 years working for Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) as a Nursing Supervisor for their community clinics in Santa Ana. Before CHOC, Limbo worked for Children's' Hospital of Boston and other hospitals and colleges in the Boston area. Limbo is the president of the local Orange County National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Vice-President of the local chapter of the Society of Pediatric Nurses and a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses. Andrew Messer has been hired as the Director of Development. As Director of Development, Messer will be working with the Board of Directors on a major gifts fundraising campaign. For the last 21 years, Messer has held numerous positions with the Boy Scouts of America in Orange County, Wisconsin, San Diego, and most recently in Glendale as the Scout Executive/Chief Executive Officer. During his six years in Glendale, Messer has been Glendale Rotary Club President;; a Glendale Adventist Medical Center Advisory Board Member; a Glendale Citizens for Law and Order Board of Directors Member; an Alpha Foundation Board Member; a Burbank Elks Member; Glendale Healthy Kids Board Member; and a Glendale Character and Ethics Project Board Member. Partial funding of Messer's position was acquired from the Pacific Life Foundation's Capacity Building Program. Return to Top
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