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UK Against Fluoridation

Friday, May 11, 2007

USA - Michigan: Grant helps children fight tooth decay

Grant helps children fight tooth decay
Delta Dental of Michigan donates $250,000 for fluoride varnish treatments to low-income families.
Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News
Up to 22,000 low-income children will receive tooth decay prevention treatments later this year following a $250,000 grant to the state health department from Delta Dental of Michigan, officials announced Thursday.
The state-run program will distribute the funds to various organizations that will provide the fluoride varnish treatments. Children in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are among those who could receive expanded dental care under the initiative.
The program, Varnish! Michigan, is expected to reduce tooth decay by 48 to 60 percent in the children who are treated. One in four children who don't have dental care access develop untreated decay, gum diseases and other oral health problems by the time they reach third grade, Michigan Department of Community Health officials say.
"I applaud this company (Delta) that is willing to stand up and help government take care of the oral health epidemic in this state's underserved populations," said Kris Nicholoff, assistant executive director of the Michigan Dental Association. "Oral health care is primary care. This is vital, primary and it is money well spent."
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children, according to the National Institutes of Health. A report issued last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that tooth decay in children ages 2 to 5 years increased 24 percent from 1988-1994 and 1999-2004.
More than 200,000 children in 59 Michigan counties have access to dental care through a $10.9 million state partnership with Delta Dental known as Healthy Kids Dental.
But thousands of children in 24 other counties -- including Wayne, Oakland and Macomb -- go without care because they cannot access this program due to state funding limitations.
You can reach Kim Kozlowski at (313) 222-2024 or kkozlowski@detnews.com.

Thought Michigan was fluoridated?

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