United Way of NCF launches crowdfunding site to help fund oral health program

row of kids in classroom webToo many children in Florida have difficulty accessing dental care and that includes those in Alachua County where a 2013 Third Grade Dental Survey showed that over 50 percent of kids had experienced dental decay, and nearly 1 in 3 had untreated cavities.

For several years, the University of Florida College of Dentistry has worked with United Way of North Central Florida to provide preventive dental care to the highest-need children in our area.

“Last year, our school-based dental sealant program served 540 children in 13 of the lowest-income schools in Alachua County.  In addition, we started a WIC Oral Health Program that provides oral health education for pregnant women and mothers receiving nutritional assistance, and dental screening and fluoride treatments for their young children.  Our Head Start program provides tooth-brushing instruction, dental screening and fluoride treatments to 3–5-year-old children enrolled in county pre-K programs,” said Elizabeth Lense, D.D.S.,  M.S.H.S., a clinical associate professor in the Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science.

However, Lense says, the grant funding that enabled these programs to launch in ending. The college and United Way is asking for help to continue this work.

If you would like to make a donation to help support this program, you can click on this link and give to help improve the oral health of children in Alachua County.  Every donation counts and helps.

For more information contact Dr. Elizabeth C. Lense at (352) 273-5031 or elense@dental.ufl.edu.