October is National Dental Hygiene Month, so remember to brush!  Here are a few grants and other resources and news items. 

The American Dental Association Foundation will award several grants up to $5,000 through the Fund for Children’s Dental Health.  The focus is on the prevention of childhood cavities and oral health promotion and education.  This year they will consider programs for mothers and caregivers to help reduce the incidence of early childhood cavities.  The deadline is January 8.

Colgate accepts funding requests throughout the year from “organizations concerned with young people and education.”  All they require is a two-page proposal with the goal of the organization; specific purpose of the request and proof of non-profit status.   No word on requests limits, but they have contact information; I’d give them a call if you have an oral health project.

This year Wisconsin removed a major barrier to licensing dentists.  As of January 2009, dentists who pass a clinical competence examination in any region of the country will be eligible for a license to practice dentistry in Wisconsin.  Great news to address the chronic shortage of dentists in rural areas!

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center has some great material and tools to promote oral health.  They have a resource library covering topics like baby bottles and tooth decay.  They even have a YouTube channel!  They also developed an online training module to assist people working children in a community setting, e.g., Head Start, promote oral health.   Open Wide: Oral Health Training for Health Professionals is a comprehensive, series of easy to understand lessons on oral health.

The Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual is a comprehensive overview on starting and running and a “safety net” clinic.  It offers information on partnerships and planning, facilities and staffing, financing, clinic operations, and quality awareness and improvement of dental clinics.  Also includes links to sample policies, budget worksheets and design tips.  A great resource is you and your community are considering setting up a clinic.