ADA Foundation, 3M raise stakes in battle against childhood caries

The ADA Foundation and 3M announced on Sept. 22 that 3M will donate 3,000 introductory sealant kits to the ADA Foundation for use during the 2017 Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program. The donation, which has an estimated fair market value of $250,000, will help Give Kids A Smile volunteers place more than 400,000 sealants on underserved kids’ teeth in 2017.

“In our collaborations with oral health professionals around the world, we see the importance that our customers place on giving back to their communities, and it is one we share wholeheartedly,” said John Tobin, director, U.S. Sales and Marketing, 3M Oral Care. “We are proud to partner with the ADA Foundation and the 2017 Give Kids A Smile program to help kids keep healthy smiles for life.” 

Each sealant kit can provide approximately 140 sealant applications and includes two 1.2 ml 3M™ Clinpro™ Sealant syringes, one 3 ml 3M™ Scotchbond™ Etchant syringe, 20 sealant syringe tips, and 25 etchant syringe tips. A sealant kit will be included in each of the 3,000 Henry Schein Dental professional kitsdistributed to those who register and are awarded product for Give Kids A Smile programs in January, 2017.

“Give Kids A Smile Programs from around the country have been asking for sealant material because they are highly effective and a safe means of preventive dental care,” said Dr. Jeff Dalin, ADA Foundation Give Kids A Smile Committee member. “We love working with 3M and are excited about the opportunity of getting their Clinpro Sealant into the hands of our wonderful volunteers. A lot of kids will benefit greatly from this generous donation of product."

Related reading: 3M once again named as Most Innovative Company

The ADA Foundation will celebrate Give Kids A Smile’s 15^th anniversary in 2017.

In August, the Journal of the American Dental Association published a systematic review, and the updated clinical practice guidelines it helped generate, giving a clear indication to dental professionals as to the marked benefit of the use of sealants in preventing and managing occlusal caries in children and adolescents. The analysis indicated that children treated with sealants have about a 70 to 80 percent reduction in the incidence of occlusal caries compared with children that do not receive sealants.

For more information about Give Kids A Smile or to sign up your Give Kids A Smile program, visit adafoundation.org/GKAS. To make a donation to Give Kids A Smile, visit adafoundation.org.