Page 12 - America's ToothFairy 2024 Impact

SPECIAL KIDS PROGRAM
Saving Special Smiles
Dental care is the leading unmet health care need for more than 12.5 million children in the U.S. who have special healthcare needs. They face additional challenges in maintaining oral health at home and are also more prone to oral conditions including tooth anomalies, teeth grinding, gingival overgrowth, and early, severe gum disease.
Our Special Kids Program supports education and services benefiting children with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities through our program members, who treat patients with disabilities at a rate that is 23% higher than the national average.
In addition, America’s ToothFairy collaborates with the American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD) and PAOH (People Advocating for Optimal Health) to promote the importance of access to dental care for people living with special healthcare needs.
“It’s everybody’s problem. We need a unified approach. Thank you for being part of my team and for everything that you do for us.”
Dr. Steven Perlman
Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, Boston University, Goldman School of Dental Medicine PAOH Liaison, AADMD
Click here and watch our full interview with Dr. Steven Perlman.
12
Gifts in Action
MOUTH GUARDS PROTECT SPECIAL SMILES
This year we partnered with CustMBite to help athletes with developmental disabilities who participated in the Juice Hoops Foundation’s Neuro Heroes Sports Camp protect their smiles
from injury on the court and from tooth decay at home! Thanks to CustMBite’s “Buy One, Give One” offer athletes received mouth guards as well as oral
health education materials and special toothbrushes.
Our executive director, Jill Malmgren and Michael “Juice” Thompson, founder of the Juice Hoops Foundation, thank CustMBite for their donation. A total of 620 2-packs of mouth guards were distributed to 12 partner organizations. One mouthguard is donated for every one sold at americastoothfairy.org/products-with-a-cause.