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By working with community partners and dedicated volunteers, Delta Dental is committed to the future of programs designed to improve oral health education and access. On a statewide level, we are continuing to explore ways to help all Virginians receive the oral health education and access to care they need to be healthy.
Delta Dental's Smart Smiles®
Smart Smiles is successful because it removes the obstacles that prevent children from receiving the dental care they need. In addition to a lack of dental insurance or financial resources, many parents and caregivers are unable to take time off from work or lack transportation to take their children to the dentist.
Smart Smiles takes all of these problems away. The program coordinator schedules dental appointments, provides transportation, stays with the children in the waiting area, coordinates follow-up care, and keeps parents and caregivers well informed. Smart Smiles participants receive comprehensive oral health services from the same dentist over time. Providing a consistent local dentist for children is an important aspect of improving their long-term oral health.
Give Kids A Smile® Day
Give Kids A Smile Day, sponsored by the American Dental Association, is designed to address the epidemic of untreated oral disease and ongoing challenges low income children face in accessing dental care, and to deliver the message that dentists alone cannot solve this problem without a real commitment from the entire community.
In Virginia, free dental care and education are provided for children through the collaboration of Delta Dental, Virginia Dental Association and concerned dental professionals, school officials and countless volunteers.
Upcoming Give Kids A Smile Day events
Missions of Mercy (MOM)
As an outreach project of the Virginia Dental Health Foundation and Virginia Dental Association, Missions of Mercy projects are conducted in identified, underserved areas of the state where there are not enough dental practitioners to adequately address the oral health needs of the community.
As of July 15, 2009, Missions of Mercy has conducted 41 missions serving 32,000 people across Virginia. Dental professionals have provided pro-bono services valued at $16.5 million.
Through the collaborative efforts of dental professionals, volunteers and Delta Dental of Virginia, thousands of Virginians have received dental care since 2000. Virginia’s MOM projects have set an unparalleled example for other states to follow by making a difference in the lives of others.
Volunteers can register online at: www.vadental.org.