Two-day Dental Event Provides $1.5 Million in Oral Health Services
Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 28, 2014 -- The California Dental Association Foundation’s two-day dental clinic, CDA Cares, provided nearly $1.5 million in charitable dental services to 1,959 people during the April 25-26 event in Solano County.
The fifth event since 2012, the CDA Foundation and CDA host CDA Cares to provide dental services and oral health education at no charge to Californians who experience barriers to care.
“While the state has taken a positive first step with the partial restoration of adult Denti-Cal, the need for an adequately funded dental safety net is evident at each of these events,” said CDA President James Stephens, DDS. “We need a state dental director, as proposed in the governor’s revised budget, to develop and manage a state oral health plan that includes prevention programs and applying for federal dollars to support the oral health of Californians.”
CDA Cares Solano received tremendous support from the Solano County Board of Supervisors and Vallejo City Council, which recognized the need for oral health care services in their community.
"Solano County was honored to partner with the CDA Foundation to bring CDA Cares to our community,” said Linda Seifert, Solano County Board of Supervisors chair. “The program helped meet unmet dental needs for nearly 2,000 people, and it raised community and political awareness about the importance of oral health in overall health.”
During the two-day charity event, dentists and dental professionals provided cleanings, fillings, extractions and oral health education. Additionally, volunteer technicians in the dental lab area worked to provide full and partial dentures.
The Solano County Fairgrounds clinic was supported by 1,700 volunteers, including more than 800 health professionals — dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, nurses and dental lab technicians — as well as hundreds of community volunteers who helped make the event a success.
“The support we’ve received from the community has been overwhelming,” said Don Rollofson, DMD, chair of the CDA Foundation. “Volunteers are vital to the success of these events, and to have 1,700 people here donating their time and skills to help people in need is just outstanding.”
The next CDA Cares event is scheduled to be held in Pomona in November 2014. For more information, to register to volunteer or to donate, visit cdafoundation.org.
About the California Dental Association Foundation
The CDA Foundation was formed as the philanthropic arm of the California Dental Association in 2001 with the mission to improve the oral health of all Californians by supporting the dental health profession in its efforts to meet community needs. The CDA Foundation provides grants and scholarships to dental students and professionals, promotes oral health prevention and education, and holds dental clinics around the state that provide dental care at no charge to Californians in need. http://www.cdafoundation.org.
Alicia Malaby, California Dental Association, +1 (916) 554-5372, [email protected]
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