DELTA DENTAL OF MISSOURI AWARDS NEARLY $150,000 IN GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION
The grants, dispersed across 15 Missouri communities,
range from $1,350 to $25,000

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Oct. 25, 2021) … Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s dental benefits leader and a non-profit organization – today announced they have awarded nearly $150,000 in grant funding to 15 Missouri communities and counties in need of new or replacement equipment to start or continue community water fluoridation. This funding will help protect the oral health of more than 120,000 Missourians who live in the impacted areas. 

“We’re pleased to help these municipalities overcome financial barriers that come with upgrading or maintaining a community water system with fluoridation,” said Rob Goren, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Missouri. “We believe these costs shouldn’t stand in the way of public health, which is why we’re thrilled to award these grants to improve lives by advancing oral health throughout Missouri.”

Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) is the adjustment of fluoride levels in a community’s water supply to reach the optimum level for oral health protection, 0.7 mg/L. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community water fluoridation has been identified as the most cost-effective method of delivering fluoride, reducing tooth decay by 25% in children and adults. By preventing cavities, it has been shown to save money both for families and the U.S. healthcare system. Community water fluoridation is recommended by nearly all public health, medical and dental organizations, and by the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Public Health Service and World Health Organization.

Delta Dental of Missouri’s Community Water Fluoridation grants ranged from $1,350 to $25,000, and were awarded to the cities of Albany, Dexter, Glasgow, Kahoka, Liberty, Louisiana, Monroe City, Osage Beach, Pacific, Slater, Springfield and Trenton – and to Butler, Cole and Jefferson counties. Funds are being used to establish new systems or upgrade or replace existing equipment, including fluoride pumps, scales and readout systems, tanks and testing equipment. Funds also help cover engineering costs. 

“I am thankful to have had the opportunity for our department to receive grant funding from Delta Dental and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to replace our aged fluoride bulk storage tanks with new ones,” said Alan Jones, manager of water treatment and supply at City Utilities of Springfield, which received a $20,864 grant for water fluoridation equipment. “As we all know, equipment can be very expensive. Our department operates on a limited budget, and the grant made a tremendous difference for us, enabling the replacement project to be completed in an expedited manner and conserving resources. If there were another opportunity, I would definitely consider this process again in the future.”

To learn more about Delta Dental of Missouri’s ongoing initiatives to help people of all ages access vital dental care, educational services and community resources to live better lives through improved dental health, visit: https://www.deltadentalmo.com/AboutUs/oral-health-grant-program.

About Delta Dental of Missouri 

Delta Dental of Missouri is the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides more than 2.1 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care as well through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at www.DeltaDentalMO.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.    

Sources: 

https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/basics/

https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Ffluoridation%2Findex.htm