National Children's Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America's ToothFairy has named the department of pediatric dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry as the 2013 Affiliate of the Year.
Presented annually to a member of the America's ToothFairy affiliate network, the award recognizes exemplary commitment to eliminating pediatric dental disease. The award was presented to the VCU department of pediatric dentistry during the America's ToothFairy Celebration of Smiles in Chicago on February 21.
Margaret Snellings, BSDH, RDH, VCU community relations coordinator, accepted the honor in the ToothFairy costume she wears when conducting community outreach activities for children throughout the Richmond, VA, area.
The VCU School of Dentistry joined the America's ToothFairy affiliate network in 2011 and has since been recognized as the first NCOHF University Affiliate Oral Health Zone through its active participation in Tomorrow's Smiles, Students United for America's ToothFairy, and the America's ToothFairy Kids Club. VCU offers preventive health services and free oral health education classes and visits from the ToothFairy at libraries, schools, faith-based organizations, health fairs, community events, and other locations.
An initial grant from America's ToothFairy enabled the VCU department of pediatric dentistry to reach more Richmond area children with vital oral health promotion and education, explained Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, PhD, chair and associate professor of pediatric dentistry at VCU.