Virginia Commonwealth University Named 2013 America's ToothFairy Affiliate of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - March 26, 2013 - PRLog -- (Charlotte, March 26, 2013) – National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy® (NCOHF) is pleased to announce Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry (VCU) has been named the 2013 Affiliate of the Year.  Presented annually to a member of the America’s ToothFairy Affiliate network, the Affiliate of the Year Award recognizes exemplary commitment to eliminating pediatric dental disease.  The national America’s ToothFairy Affiliate network is comprised of non-profit community healthcare facilities dedicated to providing oral health services for children in need.  The award was presented to the VCU Department of Pediatric Dentistry during the America’s ToothFairy Celebration of Smiles at the Chicago Hyatt Regency on February 21, 2013.

“We would like to express our gratitude to America’s ToothFairy, their Underwriters and their Program Sponsors.  With their generous support and donations, America’s ToothFairy has given us our wings,” said Margaret Snellings, BSDH, RDH, VCU Community Relations Coordinator, as she accepted the honor in the ToothFairy costume she wears when conducting community outreach activities for children throughout the Richmond, Virginia region. “We are honored to be recognized as the Affiliate of the Year and the VCU School of Dentistry is proud to stand beside America’s ToothFairy to fight towards a future filled with brighter smiles for children.”

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry joined the America’s ToothFairy Affiliate Network in 2011 and has since been recognized as the first NCOHF University Affiliate Oral Health Zone through their active participation in Tomorrow’s SMILES®, Students United for America’s ToothFairy® and the America’s ToothFairy Kids Club.  VCU offers preventive health services and free oral health education classes and visits from the ToothFairy at libraries, schools, faith-based organizations, health fairs, community events, WIC and Boys & Girls Clubs.  

“An initial grant from America’s ToothFairy enabled the VCU Department of Pediatric Dentistry to reach more Richmond area children with vital oral health promotion and education,” said Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, PhD, Chair & Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry.   “What began as a few small events has established the foundation for a larger-scale Oral Health Zone outreach effort benefitting our entire community.”

“We are honored to be recognized as the 2013 America’s ToothFairy Affiliate of the Year,” stated David C. Sarrett, DMD, MS, Dean, School of Dentistry and Associate Vice President for Health Sciences.   “Their support has been instrumental in enabling us to provide children with critical oral health services and raise awareness of the importance of oral health and its link to overall systemic health.”

“We applaud the tremendous dedication of the faculty, pediatric dental residents, dental and dental hygiene students at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry for their efforts to expand oral health education and services for underserved children in their community,” remarked Fern Ingber, NCOHF President and CEO.  “They are true champions for children’s oral health and we are proud recognize VCU as the 2013 America’s ToothFairy Affiliate of the Year.”

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

About Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry

Located in downtown Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research.  The VCU School of Dentistry has a long history of education practitioners capable of meeting the oral health care needs of the communities they serve.   The Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to clinical excellence, innovative educational initiatives and forging ahead with translational research while focusing on the oral health of the developing child and how oral health impacts the overall health of the individual.  For more information, visit www.vcu.edu.

About National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy®

National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s ToothFairy (NCOHF) is 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.  With a growing Affiliate network of exemplary non-profit community programs, the America’s ToothFairy Kids Club, professional and student service programs, America’s ToothFairy is creating a powerful, united effort to eliminate tooth decay and protect the smiles of our most vulnerable children.  For more information about America’s ToothFairy, please visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org.