The Renaissance Family Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the Renaissance Dental Insurance company recently donated $25,000 to Hernando County’s Florida Department of Health school based dental sealant program.
Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Once applied, they can dramatically reduce the risk of tooth decay.
The school based sealant program serves all 2nd graders at each of the 7 Title I elementary schools in the county. Department of Health (DOH) dental professionals will go to each of these schools on designated dates, provide oral health education, sealant/fluoride application, supplies to each participating child that encourages preventive dental care at home and information about local DOH dental services. In order for the child to participate, a signed permission slip by a parent or guardian is required.
“The generous program funding given by the Renaissance Family Foundation will help ensure more of our children are protected against painful dental disease and subsequent missed school days,” said Robin Napier, DOH-Hernando administrator.
The Renaissance Dental Insurance company, with numerous participating providers in Hernando County, started the foundation in 2013.
“It’s difficult to think about the number of kids who go through the day feeling the pain of a toothache simply because they lack basic dental care,” said Robert Mulligan, president and CEO of Renaissance Dental. “We hope this grant allows children in Hernando county to focus on work in the classroom, instead of pain caused by tooth decay.”