America’s Toothfairy®
…because every child deserves a healthy smile.
NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program™
America’s #1 Chronic Childhood Illness is Completely Preventable
Pediatric dental disease is more than just an oral health issue; it is a national health issue. Its effects can be felt in our schools and workplaces, throughout our communities, and even in our own wallets.
Learn more about the impact of pediatric dental disease on our children and our nation.
A solution to America’s oral health crisis must involve all those concerned with the health of our children and the future of our communities.
A Community Response to a National Health Crisis 
Through the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program™ (OHZ), Affiliate nonprofit oral health programs are partnering with key community stakeholders to solve their local oral health crisis. Representatives from dental and allied health fields, schools, community and faith organizations, local families, early childhood centers and local businesses all take part in an OHZ.
The NCOHF OHZ plan guides these leaders in developing a comprehensive program that addresses their unique community oral health needs. Participating NCOHF Affiliates receive additional specialized products, funding consideration, and technical support tailored to their specific strategic plan.
By integrating oral health education in school and community programs, expanding delivery of preventive care in nontraditional settings, and incorporating oral health messages throughout existing local channels, an NCOHF OHZ lays the foundation for a healthier, better informed, and more productive community.
Building a Healthier Community – the Bay Area OHZ
In 2008, NCOHF Affiliate – University of California at San Francisco School of Dentistry (UCSF) received funding to launch the Bay Area OHZ. In just over a year, UCSF students and staff have implemented several OHZ initiatives to address their local oral health crisis.
- UCSF is training primary care physicians, pediatric medicine residents, and nurse practitioner students in fluoride varnish application, oral health screening integration, and the dental home referral process
- UCSF also provides instruction on delivering oral health and disease prevention education programs to underserved families in a medical setting
- To promote maternal oral health in the Bay Area, UCSF held an oral health education and dental screening program for pregnant women and young mothers
- UCSF students provided oral health education and dental screenings to over 1,200 underserved children through 12 community health fairs in 2009
- Through collaborations with community partners such as Head Start, Early Head Start, Boys and Girls Clubs, and local school districts, the Bay Area OHZ provided dental screenings and oral health education to thousands of additional children in 2009
“As an NCOHF OHZ, we are able to do numerous outreach activities with our students and residents to care for children in the underserved communities. In addition to providing dental health training…in areas where access to dental care…is difficult, NCOHF emphasizes providing preventive oral health education to pregnant women and young mothers so good oral health for children can start very early.”
-Dr. Brent Lin, Director of the UCSF Pre-Doctoral Pediatric Dentistry Program
Future OHZ Locations
- Chicago, IL
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
- Orange County, CA
- Washington, DC
- Springdale, AR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Alabama
- Florida
Contact us to learn more about the NCOHF Oral Health Zone Program™ and how you can help.
