SANFORD - The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Central Carolina Community College for its partnership with Lee County Public Health Department in creating the Central Carolina Dental Center.
The center, located in the historic W.B. Wicker School building in Sanford, will combine the training of dental hygienists and dental assistants with providing dental health services to needy residents. The goal is to more than double the number of dental health visits for uninsured residents in central North Carolina and establish a service-lea ing program to train oral health-care professionals.
"The Central Carolina Dental Center will make a real difference in tackling a pressing health issue from two fronts: addressing the troubling state of dental health in the region and combating a serious shortage of dental health providers," said Kathy Higgins, president of the BCBSNC Foundation. "This effective approach fits nicely with the our focus on improving health care access in North Carolina, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation is pleased to do its part to help."
The center is now open for clinical services, including teeth cleanings, dental examinations, x-rays and other services. Within three years, it is expected to provide 5,000 patient visits annually, up from the current 1,900. It is also expected to train about 40 new dental health professionals per year.
"Pending American Dental Association accreditation, the first class of Dental Assisting diploma students will start in the spring 2007 semester, and Dental Hygiene students will begin working toward their Associate in Applied Science degrees in the fall of 2007," said CCCC President Matt Garrett.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, poor people and minorities have a higher incidence of oral health problems. A report from the U.S. Surgeon General found that children and adolescents living in poverty suffer twice as much tooth decay as their more affluent peers and that their disease is likely to go untreated.
The problem is acute in the region to be served by the Central Carolina Dental Center. The N.C. Division of Public Health reported that in 2002, the rate of untreated tooth decay for fifth graders was 53 percent in Moore County, 52 percent in Lee County, 46 percent in Chatham County and 41 percent in Ha ett County. The statewide average is 24 percent.
About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation:
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation provides financial support to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians. This mission is achieved through programs and services funded in response to grant requests, as well as through funding for programs supporting needs identified by the BCBSNC Foundation. Since its inception in November 2000, the BCBSNC Foundation has awarded more than $29 million in grants to organizations throughout the state. In addition to its grant program, the BCBSNC Foundation supports several signature programs. These programs include Be Active KidsSM, an award-winning program that teaches preschool children about nutrition and physical activity; and Healthy Community Institutes for Non-Profit Excellence, two-day intensive training sessions offered free of charge to all North Carolina nonprofits. Additional information about the BCBSNC Foundation's signature programs and grant requirements, as well as a list of all grants awarded can be found on our Web site at www.bcbsnc.com/foundation.