America’s Toothfairy®
…because every child deserves a healthy smile.
History
In 1995 Dr. Cherilyn Sheets led the establishment of The Children’s Dental Center (TCDC) in Inglewood, California. Creating a dental home for disadvantaged children, TCDC provides immediate dental care for urgent oral health problems, restorative treatment services, preventative therapies and a comprehensive child/parent preventive educational program. TCDC has inspired the establishment of similar children’s dental centers in other communities across the nation.
To address the escalating need for quality dental care and preventive services in our country, as highlighted in the 2000 Surgeon General’s report, “Oral Health in America”, The National Children’s Dental Foundation (TNCDF) was launched in February 2006 to link hundreds of non-profit pediatric community-based dental centers (Affiliates) through a national network sharing financial, technical, and product resources in order to expand and enhance care for all underserved American children.
The Foundation brought together dental and public health professionals, educators, corporate executives and employees, civic leaders, and concerned individuals to focus on the singular issue of delivery of quality pediatric oral health care.
Towards the end of its first year, the organization’s name was changed to National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF). The new name reflects the organization’s integrated approach of connecting oral health with systemic health. NCOHF engages a broad range of stakeholders, from dental, medical and public health professionals to universities, national organizations, corporate executives, civic leaders and philanthropic partners to mount the powerful offensive necessary to eliminate this “silent epidemic”. NCOHF Affiliates literally transform pain and suffering into healthy smiles and bright futures for millions of children.
With significant support from corporations, media partners and dental professionals, NCOHF had almost 50 non-profit pediatric facilities in its Affiliate pipeline by the close of its first year of operations.
NCOHF continues to expand its Affiliate network. The Foundation continues to initiate community-based programs to increase access to care for underserved children, promote awareness of pediatric oral disease and prevention, and raise funds to support delivery of critical oral health services.
In 2008 NCOHF underwent a re-branding to NCOHF: America’s Toothfairy. This change reflects our evolving role as Educator, Preventer, and Protector of our nation’s most vulnerable children.
