Cambridge, Mass., (10/31/2024) – ForsythKids, a mobile dental program bringing care to underserved communities, will expand its school-based program in Canton, Massachusetts, alongside Delta Dental of Massachusetts, the leading dental benefits administrator in the state.
ForsythKids has been providing preventative dental care to children in the Canton Public Schools district for four school years and were already scheduled to provide dental care to CPS students Oct. 21 and 22. Thanks to $18,000 in funding from Delta Dental of Massachusetts, ForsythKids can expand its offering to more children in the area for the 2024-25 school year.
Care provided by ForsythKids includes dental examinations, cleanings, sealants, and fluoride varnish. The program provides each student with toothpaste, toothbrushes, oral hygiene instruction, and referrals to community dentists as needed. ForsythKids visits school sites, setting up a mobile pediatric dentistry clinic. ForsythKids is led by the nonprofit ADA Forsyth Institute, the world’s leader in innovative oral health research with a mission to promote oral health education and accessible care through community programs.
Providing oral health education and care has been vital to AFI’s mission since 1914, when the organization began providing care to children in Boston’s lower-income areas. As one of the first dental infirmaries in the world dedicated to children, AFI has treated nearly 750,000 children using scientific knowledge to improve public health. AFI continues to identify community outreach as an important part of its mission.
“We are grateful for Delta Dental of Massachusetts’ generous contribution and commitment to improving oral health in underserved communities,” said Megan Pugach-Gordon, Director of ForsythKids. “We look forward to continuing to provide care and education in Canton and encourage parents to join us in learning more about oral health and how we can support families’ access to impactful health care.”
Canton is home to a diverse community, including many recently migrated families from a wide range of countries. Many members of the community may not have previously accessed dental care. ForsythKids connects with kids and their parents to increase education about oral health and address critical unmet needs. ForsythKids treated about 2,600 kids during the 2023-24 school year. Thanks to generous contributions such as Delta Dental of Massachusetts’ funding, ForsythKids can provide care free of charge to families without insurance coverage.
Delta Dental of Massachusetts seeks to power effective dental care for underserved communities, aiming to support direct dental care to improve the overall health of communities throughout Massachusetts.
“Oral health is directly linked to overall health and wellbeing, and we know that access to preventive dental care is critical from a young age,” said Erik Montlack, President of Delta Dental of Massachusetts. “ForsythKids’ mobile, school-based dental program provides an important access point for children and families and Delta Dental is proud to support the expansion of this initiative in the Canton community.”
Tooth decay, the most common childhood disease in the U.S., results in more than 51 million lost school hours each year. Untreated dental disease can lead to pain, lack of attention in the classroom, problems eating and speaking, low self-esteem and long-term health consequences.
The percentage of kids with untreated cavities decreased from 39 to 19 percent after they received treatment by ForsythKids, among a 7,000-child cohort examined in a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association1.
1. Starr, Jacqueline R. et al. Longitudinal caries prevalence in a comprehensive, multicomponent, school-based prevention program. The Journal of the American Dental Association, Volume 152, Issue 3, 224 – 233.e11
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Media Contacts:
ADA Forsyth, Jill Sirko, jsirko@forsyth.org
Delta Dental of Massachusetts, Francis Orlando, forlando@deltadentalmass.com
About the ADA Forsyth Institute
The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children (later, the Forsyth Institute), to provide dental care to the disadvantaged children of Boston. While continuing to serve children in need, yet recognizing the ultimate goal is to prevent dental disease, the Institute in 1915 began to focus on scientific research and is today the world’s leader in oral health research. In October of 2023, the Institute joined with the American Dental Association to form the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to improving people’s oral and overall health and powering the profession of dentistry through cutting-edge basic research, creative translational science, innovative clinical technologies, and global public health outreach. Consistent with the Institute’s founding mission, the ADA ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.
About Delta Dental of Massachusetts
Delta Dental of Massachusetts (www.deltadentalma.com), the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, is a leader in innovative programs that improve the overall health of members, prevent oral disease and reduce health care costs for employers, groups and individuals. Headquartered in Charlestown, Mass., Delta Dental of Massachusetts, a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (www.deltadental.com), covers more than 2 million people. Follow us on X (@DeltaDentalofMA), Facebook (www.facebook.com/DeltaDentalMA), and Instagram (@deltadentalofma).
