Dental company donates $45k for dental healthcare in Seminole County

The Renaissance Family Foundation (RFF), an affiliate of Renaissance Dental, has awarded $45,000 in grants to the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole). The RFF is dedicated to improving oral health in Florida, where almost a quarter of third graders have untreated tooth decay.
“We’re very happy that the Renaissance Family Foundation is providing funding to DOH-Seminole,” said Robert Mulligan, president and CEO of Renaissance Dental. “Children miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral-health-related issues, and tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States. Our goal is to ensure that more children can be successful in school and in life.”
The grant will be used to fund sealant programs in Seminole County during the upcoming school year. Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Once applied, they can dramatically reduce the risk of tooth decay.
“There is a great need for the funding of sealant programs here in Seminole County and we are grateful for the support provided by the Renaissance Family Foundation,” said Dr. Swannie Jett, Health Officer, DOH-Seminole. “These funds will be used to help hundreds of low-income students who are most at risk of suffering from painful tooth decay that often keeps them out of school.”
According to the Florida Department of Health tooth decay affects over 20 percent of children in Florida. Sealants are painless and simply save money. In fact, the American Dental Association cites the cost of one dental sealant to be $44.12 versus $197.09 for each filling.
“Dental sealants are a proven answer for preventing adolescent tooth decay,” said Mulligan. “This grant ensures more children in Florida have access to effective dental care so they can achieve their full potential.”
The Renaissance Family Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Renaissance Dental. It awards grants to organizations that provide dental care for the underserved, to programs that promote the importance of good oral health and to educational institutions to enhance dental education and research.

- Special to the Herald