Foundation Spotlight: What is Super Sealant Saturday?

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Event Organizers Kristie Parton, Community Service Chair for the American Student Dental Association and Christine Van Grossbeck, both third-year dental students, along with Dr. Russell O. Gilpatrick, Professor and Dean of the College of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University on Super Sealant Saturday 2013.
Event Organizers Kristie Parton, Community Service Chair for the American Student Dental Association and Christine Van Grossbeck, both third-year dental students, along with Dr. Russell O. Gilpatrick, Professor and Dean of the College of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University on Super Sealant Saturday 2013.

The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, founded in 1997 with a mission to promote oral health and prevent dental disease in underserved and uninsured communities. This mission is woven through all aspects of Foundation activities – from daily dental supply donations to schools and non-profit organizations to the annual responsive grant-making process to the fundraisers that are executed to benefit the Foundation each year. Every step, each day for the Foundation is taken with the thought of fulfilling this mission of the organization.

One of the many deserving organizations chosen to receive a grant was Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine for their Super Sealant Saturday program. It was the third year of the program and the third year of support from Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.

Super Sealant Saturday was held at the University’s Dental Clinic on October 19, 2013 and is entirely organized by the students in partnership with the dental college. The goals of the event are two-fold: first, the University aims to instill in future dentists the understanding and need for dental education and prevention, especially in underprivileged and underinsured communities; second, to improve oral health through direct education and preventive services. Sealant and fluoride varnish were provided, in addition to a mandatory 15-minute session in English and Spanish covering dental hygiene instruction, diet, water fluoridation and lifestyle decisions.

Scientific evidence shows that dental sealant programs reduce decay in school-aged children by more than 70 percent, as documented in the Surgeon General’s 2000 report, and is considered a best practice service. This view is fully supported by Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation through its efforts throughout the state of Arizona including Maricopa County Department of Public Health’s Office of Oral Health Sealant Program, and Mohave Community College Dental Program’s partnership with Boys & Girls Club of the Colorado River, among others, such as Super Sealant Saturday.

This event not only fulfills the mission of Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, but furthers the education of future dentists here in Arizona — and that makes everyone smile! To make your donation, visit our Foundation website.

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Barb Kozuh
Barb Kozuh is the executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. She and her team work to make a positive impact to improve the health and wellness of the underserved and under-represented people across Arizona. The foundation focuses on funding oral health and food insecurity programs through medical-dental integration programs, screening/fluoride varnish programs, oral health education programs, plus a variety of food banks, after-school and weekend programs that provide food to those in need. Barb was inspired by the dedication, patience and kind-heartedness of her childhood family dentist in Joliet, IL and wanted to make others feel good about their smiles by becoming a dentist. However, after graduating from Arizona State University with a business degree, she was lured into the non-profit sports industry where she was able to both fulfill her need to help others and satisfy her love of sports. Barb has served as executive director of Chicago White Sox Charities, the Frank Thomas Charitable Foundation and Phoenix Coyotes Charities. In addition, Barb has worked in marketing, advertising and public relations for a number of firms in Chicago. Barb serves on the Delta Dental Institute advisory council, board of the Corporate Volunteer Council and is a member of the Arizona Oral Health Coalition.