Introduction
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For more infromation,
go to http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/oralhealth |
The importance of this crisis is illustrated by the Surgeon General’s “A Call to Action,” which urges public health agencies, private industry, educators, researchers, and healthcare providers to partner in an effort to improve the oral health of those segments of Americans who suffer disproportionately from oral diseases.1 At the forefront of this effort, is the need for education of the masses regarding oral health promotion and disease prevention. A number of education and care initiatives have evolved from this call to action. Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 is an industry-sponsored initiative that involves partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The American Dental Association (ADA), and The Procter & Gamble Company. The initiative is designed to provide oral health education, oral care tools, and increased access to dental professionals for under-privileged children and their families across the United States over the next 10 years. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of 2,800 club facilities that annually serves 3.3 million children between the ages of 6 to 18 years old that are primarily from disadvantaged circumstances.
The Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program, a component of the Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 initiative, is an educational program that was introduced to the initial group of participating clubs in the summer of 2002. The educational program was made available to all interested club members. The program consisted of age directed modules that contained information detailing normal oral health, disease prevention, and recommended oral hygiene habits and practices. It was taught to the club members by the full-time professional adult staff at each club over a four-week period. A one-month examiner-blind study was conducted to assess the short-term impact of a national dental education program (Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program) on the oral health (plaque and gingivitis levels) and dental knowledge of children who participated in the program.
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Source:
U.S. Census Data |
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| Page 3 of 10 | |
| Citation Number: Vol. 4, No. 2, Page 003 |
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