Millions of Americans live without dental insurance and as challenging economic times continue the services provided by non-profit dental clinics become increasingly important. With the support of customers and retailers, Tom’s of Maine Dental Health for AllTM program is helping these clinics provide families the dental care they need with an estimated 134,000 additional patient visits since its inception (see also Dental Health for All).

The Tom’s of Maine Dental Health for AllTM program was created to bring together people who want to help ensure underserved communities have access to oral health care. Since 2004 over 70 nonprofit clinics have received support. Individuals help by participating in the Dental Health for AllTM partnership, donating directly to clinics through the Dental Health for AllTM fund, and recommending dental clinics to receive support. This year $95,000 in donations will be made to six non-profit dental clinics across the country in recognition of their commitment and passion to making a real difference in the lives of the people in their communities. Each deserving clinic will use the funds to help increase patient capacity and improve or expand patient services.

Petaluma Health Center (Petaluma, CA), which serves 1,000 patients regardless of economic, insurance or cultural barriers, will use the award towards a new clinic location that will provide care to an additional 1,300 families in the first year.

Children’s Dental Health Clinic (Long Beach, CA) has treated more than 10,000 underserved children in the past year and will use its monies to help purchase a dental operatory unit that will benefit up to 33,000 visitors annually.

Inner City Health Care (Denver, CO) serves medically uninsured and low-income families, of which 97 percent live below the poverty line. Its funding will expand healthcare and education efforts aimed at bringing 1,700 patients to the clinic for screenings and services.

Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley (Aurora, IL) helps nearly 800 patients, of which 85 percent struggle below the poverty level. Its donation will support a new dental office expansion project designed to increase patient care by 50 percent.

Community Healthcare Network (New York, NY), which delivers accessible dental care to diverse populations in underserved communities, will purchase digital imaging equipment to help offer quality care to nearly 25 percent more patients.

Dental Health Clinic at Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR) provides dental care to 3,000 patients, of which 80 percent lack sufficient insurance coverage. It will use the donation to help fund a mobile dental clinic that brings oral health services to nearly 100 patients each academic year.

“There are millions of American families without dental insurance so they forgo proper dental care; it’s a situation that’s not getting any better in this economy,” said Kerry Maguire, D.D.S., M.S.P.H. and Tom’s Director of Professional of Advocacy. “By joining forces with our customers, we collectively took a few small steps to help improve the Dental Health available to thousands of children and adults. Everyone who purchased a Tom’s of Maine product in January helped contribute to this annual effort.”

To learn more about the program and how to nominate a non-profit clinic Dental Health for AllTM program n your area next year, visit www.tomsofmaine.com.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 1:30 pm and is filed under Dental Care & Health Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.