IUSD Awarded SurgiTel Grant from National Children's Oral Health Foundation: America's ToothFairy

Oct. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- (Charlotte, October 9, 2012)  With generous funding from SurgiTel, a leader in surgical loupe and headlight technology, National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy® (NCOHF) has awarded a grant to the Indiana University School of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry Department (IUSD).  Totaling $10,000, this grant will support the efforts of IUSD to provide comprehensive oral health services and education to thousands of children in need.  

“This wonderful donation from SurgiTel means that we can provide comprehensive dental care and oral health education for many more children who have no dental insurance and are living in families with low incomes,” said Joan Kowolik, BDS, LDS, RSC, IU’s director of predoctoral pediatric dentistry. “We greatly appreciate NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy for making this donation available to us and all the foundation has done for us and our patients. As we continue to work together we will strive to improve the oral health of the children of Indiana. ”

“SurgiTel is proud to support the NCOHF Affiliate Network and their tireless dedication to ensuring that at-risk children receive vital oral health services,” said B. J. Chang, PhD, SurgiTel President and CEO.  “As an annual supporter of NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy since 2006, we are committed to the cause and this great organization helping children in need.”

Named the NCOHF Affiliate of the Year in early 2012, IUSD actively participates in NCOHF programs such as Tomorrow’s SMILES®, Students United for America’s ToothFairy® and Trick or Treat for America’s ToothFairy to reach more at-risk youth with critical oral health services.

“The generous contribution from SurgiTel has made it possible for NCOHF to recognize and support the noble efforts of the faculty and students of Indiana University School of Dentistry,” remarked Fern Ingber, NCOHF President and CEO.  “We applaud their commitment to improve oral health for children in their community.”

National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, known as America’s ToothFairy, was formed in 2006 in an aggressive response to eliminate pediatric dental disease by providing community programs with the comprehensive resources to deliver vital educational, preventive, and treatment services to children of the most vulnerable populations.  Supporting the delivery of oral health education and care beginning at the prenatal level, NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy has reached millions of children through its national non-profit clinical network and volunteer professional and student community service programs.  

About Indiana University School of Dentistry
Located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, the IU School of Dentistry is one of the oldest dental schools in the U.S. and has more than 12,000 living alumni who are pursuing careers throughout the nation and in more than 30 other countries. As Indiana’s only dental school, it has educated about 85 percent of the state’s dentists. The school’s mission is to advance the oral health and general overall health of the people of Indiana and others worldwide through excellence in teaching and learning, research and creative activities, patient care, civic engagement and service.  

About SurgiTel®
Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, SurgiTel was founded as a branch of General Scientific Corporation.  With a history in optics extending back to the 1930s, SurgiTel is the first optical equipment company to develop products for medical and dental specialists that focus not only on vision, but also on ergonomics.  With a vision of becoming the global leader in surgical loupes and headlight technology, SurgiTel’s patented designs have already helped clinicans in over 40 countries to see, feel and work their best.  For more information about SurgiTel, visit www.SurgiTel.com.

About National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy®
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy (NCOHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to raising awareness of the #1 chronic childhood illness: pediatric dental disease, facilitating the delivery of comprehensive oral health services and eliminating this preventable disease from future generations. NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy draws on vast national resources to secure and distribute product and financial donations along with innovative preventive programs to a growing network of university and community-based dental clinics, health centers, mobile and outreach programs throughout America.  For more information about NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy, please visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org.