Charlotte —Leaders concerned with children’s health and welfare met in Charlotte on June 20-22 for the North American NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit to address the growing need for children’s oral health education and services.
Hosted by Pelton & Crane/KaVo Americas, the North American NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit focused on new technologies, educational resources, and strategies for breaking the cycle of pediatric dental disease in communities throughout North America. Travel accommodations for members of the NCOHF Affiliate network of nonprofit children’s community programs were provided by 3M ESPE.
Clinicians, educators, and corporate leaders along with representatives from nonprofit community programs worked together to explore aggressive solutions to the No. 1 chronic childhood disease. Preventive strategies and methods of engaging community stakeholders in efforts to promote children’s oral health and channels for raising awareness of this epidemic affecting millions of children were addressed during the conference.
“Pelton & Crane/KaVo were honored to partner with NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy to host this inaugural Oral Health Zone Summit," noted Matthew J. Reintjes, president, North American Dental Equipment, KaVo Group. "As a company, we recognize the critical importance of breaking the cycle of severe tooth decay and the devastating effects it has on children and their communities. We applaud the leaders who were active participants in the summit as we all work together in support of the worthwhile mission of NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy.”
“3M ESPE was proud to support this summit that brought together champions for children’s health throughout North America,”stated John Stefanick, Director of Professional and Industry Relations, 3M ESPE Dental Division. “The NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program Summit provided an excellent forum for sharing solutions for increasing access to comprehensive oral health services for those children most in need.”
Speakers included Michele Darby, BSDH, MS, Amos Deinard, Jr., MD, MPH, Thomas Engels, Carmen Fields, BA, MS, Fern Ingber, MEd, Thomas Prescott, Leo Rouse, DDS, FACD, and Rebecca Slayton, DDS, PhD. Attendees learned about educational resources designed to engage children in taking charge of their oral health and promote preventive strategies such as the Hands-On Learning Lab from Susan Maples, DDS, and Toothfairy Island.
Andrew Bonner, BS, MBA, and Stanley Shepherd, Mb ChB, BSc, from Instant Access Medical and Health One Global, discussed innovative personal electronic health record technology. Summit participants also were informed about other signature NCOHF programs designed to elevate the importance of children’s oral health in their communities. These programs include Students United for America’s ToothFairy, America’s ToothFairy Kids Club, Tomorrow’s SMILES, and the Esther Wilkins International Education Program.
“The goal of the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Summit was to support and inspire those working so diligently to improve children’s oral health outcomes,” commented Fern Ingber, MEd, NCOHF President and CEO. “The strategies, solutions and resources shared during the summit bring us one step closer to preventing the needless suffering of millions of children.”
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