Dental Select contributes more than $400,000 to improve oral health of Utah's children

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--More than 50 percent of the children enrolled in 80 elementary schools in Salt Lake, Davis, and Tooele counties are living in poverty. Those children, who reside in low-income households, usually suffer from significant amounts of tooth decay and lack of oral health care.

Dental Select recognizes the need of Utah's underprivileged children in the community and has committed to financially supporting Sealants for Smiles, a nonprofit organization that provides oral-health education and dental sealants to underserved children.

Recently honored as the title sponsor at Sealants for Smiles Second Annual Gala Benefit held at the Grand America in Salt Lake City, Dental Select was recognized for its 2009 contribution of more than $400,000.

This commitment will allow Sealants for Smiles to expand school visits into more Utah counties, increase the number of oral health presentations, and ultimately place more sealants on the second and sixth grade children who need them.

During the 2007 and 2008 school years, Dental Select contributed more than $420,000 to Sealants for Smiles. As the sole administrator for this program, Dental Select continually provides Sealants for Smiles with technology expenses, an office facility, staff wages, and salaries in order to allow 100% of donations to go directly toward advancing program services.

In the past two years, Sealants for Smiles has placed more than 31,000 dental sealants on children who were screened with moderate to urgent dental needs. Because of Dental Select's contributions, Sealants for Smiles can continue to expand and see a larger percentage of underprivileged children each year to improve Utah's community youth.

More information regarding Dental Select is available at Dental Select or by calling (800) 999-9789.

To read more about Dental Select. go to Dental Select.

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