GHP Oral Health & Dentistry Awards 2018

24 GHP / 2018 Oral Health & Dentistry Awards , Northern California Center for Well-Being Over the first two years, the program will reach thousands of community members and will include formal training of at least 2,250 residents in dental prevention techniques. The Collaborative is the brainchild of retired periodontist, John H. Duffy, DDS, who developed an easy to use technique for preventing gum disease while doing volunteer periodontal work with indigent communities in the United States and Central America. Through community health workers, known as Promotoras de Salud, the Collaborative will provide education about oral Northern California Center for Well-Being Launches Dental Collaborative TheNorthernCalifornia Center forWell-Being has recently announced the launch of the Sonoma CountyDentalWellbeing Collaborative. Designed as amodel for the nation, themission of the Collaborative is to provide preventive dental health education to themost vulnerable in Sonoma County. health disease and teach self- management skills that prevent and reduce the risk factors and trauma linked to dental disease. “I am so pleased to see Dr. Duffy’s dream become a reality,” said Karissa Moreno, Executive Director for the Northern California Center for Well-Being. “With his easy to learn program, underserved residents in our community will receive direct education about oral health disease reduction strategies, resulting in increased knowledge and self-management skills to prevent and reduce risk factors for dental decay and disease. This kind of upstream prevention program will make a significant and lasting difference in the health of the residents we serve. With Dr. Duffy’s technique and the Center for Well-Being’s team of Promotoras de Salud, we will move the needle in the health disparities of Sonoma County.” “Oral health is critical to overall wellbeing,” said Dr. John H. Duffy. “Unfortunately, there are significant oral health disparities in Sonoma County today. The Center’s community-based model will be an effective way to bring a well proven preventive approach to the community to successfully address these health disparities.”