Envista Smile Project Donates $2.1 Million to USC's Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry

USC Ostrow School of Dentistry Dean Avishai Sadan (left),and Nobel Biocare Director of Institutions TracyGlenn (right). | Image Credit: © Evista Holdings Corporation

In a move designed to help improve access to oral care, Envista Holdings Corporation and its charitable arm, the Envista Smile Project, recently announced that it has partnered with the University of Southern California's (USC) Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and committed a $2.1 million donation to USC's Dental Health Equity and Access to Care Initiative.

The Access to Care Initiative provides comprehensive care, referral services, research, and education to underserved and vulnerable populations in California, particularly children with special needs, and this gift is part of both organizations' commitment to expand and improve access to oral health for those in need.

The donation will be distributed over 3 years. It will provide oral health equipment, products, and technology to enhance existing Ostrow community programs. It will also help upgrade equipment and expand the USC Pediatric Clinic and USC Mobile Clinic, Envista states.

The Chief Development Officer of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Michele Cesca, says in a press release, "Enlarging the operatory areas will ensure there is adequate space to serve special needs patients who require additional care, increase telehealth services, and expand the care provided to those in need, including children, families, and veterans."

As part of the new collaboration, the Envista Smile Project and USC will partner on other philanthropic initiatives, including medical mission trips. Students and faculty from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry will staff the mission work, bringing oral care to thousands of people in underserved, international communities.

Image Credit: © Envista Holdings Corporation

"Partnering with USC's School of Dentistry makes perfect sense as together we can advance dental care for the underserved in California and abroad," Rubin Casas, Envista Smile Project Board President, adds in the press release."We look forward to improving people's health and restoring their dignity with a healthy and confident smile both now and in the future."

The partnership can have a positive impact on communities in need going forward, Cesca says. "The philanthropic support of Envista and the Envista Smile Project for the USC Access to Care Initiative will enable the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC to expand and enhance its efforts to create long-lasting positive change in vulnerable communities," she says."With their support and partnership, we don't just change lives; we become the architects of hope, the guardians of smiles, and the forerunners of healthier tomorrows."

Envista is a global family of more than 30 dental brands, including Nobel Biocare, Ormco, DEXIS, and Kerr. Envista Smile Project is a philanthropic foundation that seeks to improve the smiles and oral health of disadvantaged communities by supporting increased access to oral care and oral health education. The Smile Project's mission is to collaborate with dental professionals and Envista employee volunteers to donate products, treatment, and oral health education.