GDA Action October 2021

October 2021 • 21 ADVANCING ORAL HEALTH The GDA Foundation for Oral Health has continued to grow over the past few years, even through the pandemic. Our leadership, dental professionals, and industry leaders are committed to creating a future where quality oral health care and education is accessible to all. The programs and events provided by the GDA Foundation for Oral Health provide immediate and ongoing access to dental care, raise awareness of the barriers to available dental treatment for underserved populations, and challenge patients, policymakers, and dental professionals to work together to improve the oral health of all Georgians. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE As a Foundation, we are dedicated to our patient community and the betterment of the dental profession. Every investment that is made towards a patient or program is also an investment in our dentists and the dental community as a whole. Breaking down barriers to care and creating a future of inclusivity for all begins with our dentists. Education, training, and exposure to diverse populations is a key element in inspiring the public and advocating for change. We are achieving this very objective through all of our programs. Oral health is inseparable from general health and can affect a person’s self-esteem and compromise their ability to work, attend school, and lead normal lives. The care provided through our outreach programs allows patients to live their life with a confident smile, free from pain and infection, and secure in the knowledge that they are preventing future oral and whole-body health concerns. The work we do is a driving force for a growing and flourishing Georgia. It’s furthering the workforce by allowing qualified candidates to apply, attain, and retain careers. Patients are able to get back to work and have less absences due to pain or infection. They’re applying and interviewing for more jobs because they don’t feel like they have to hide their smiles anymore and interviewers are seeing the qualified candidate that was hidden behind a broken smile. The work we do is not lost on the younger generations. We are inspiring them to get involved and instilling in them the importance of service and giving back to the community. It’s with great pride that we can say our dentists are helping create a healthy and thriving Georgia. PROGRAMS OF THE GDA FOUNDATION FOR ORAL HEALTH Our dentists donate their time, expertise, and personal resources to change lives and make a lasting impact on the individual lives of their patients and the Georgia community. Looking to get involved? Volunteer for the following community outreach events and campaigns: Children’s Dental Health Month is a month-long national health observance that brings dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators together to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, caregivers, teachers, and many others. Educational activities are held across Georgia with Pre-K and school-aged children throughout the month of February. Give Kids a Smile Day is held annually on the first Friday in February and serves as the kick-off to Children’s Dental Health Month. Volunteers provide free dental health education, screenings, preventive care, and/or treatment for underserved children across Georgia. While the official Give Kids A Smile Day is held on the first Friday, events take place throughout the year. The GDA Foundation for Oral Health partners with Special Olympics Georgia to provide care to special needs patients across Georgia. Special Smiles offers dental screenings, health education and prevention services, and refers athletes of all ages to potential sources of treatment and follow-up care. The Donated Dental Service program is a unique program provided year-round that targets vastly underserved and vulnerable populations—individuals with permanent disabilities, are elderly, or qualify as medically fragile. Comprehensive dental treatment is performed by volunteer dentists in their own offices utilizing their own equipment and staff. COMMUNITY OUTREACH The Foundation participates in community outreach events such as RAM in partnership with Emory University, Georgia Mission of Mercy, veteran outreach, health fairs, and other community events. Through the GDA Foundation, dentists volunteer their time to provide screenings and/or health education. Healthy Mouth, Healthy Me! GDA’s Healthy Mouth, Healthy Me! program educates Georgians about the importance of oral health and regular dental care through TV and radio public service ads, as well as digital advertising. “I firmly believe that the work of the GDA Foundation is such a positive image for dentistry and benefit to the community it serves. This is one donation that I feel all of us should take part in and I am so pleased to be a donor to support the excellent work by the Foundation.” – Dr. Ronald Goldstein