The New York State Dental Foundation has a simple mission: to improve the oral health of all New Yorkers. It’s a simple mission, but one that is profoundly significant and daunting.
 
As dentistry’s premier philanthropic and charitable organization in New York State, the Foundation builds relationships to help make a difference in our communities through better oral health. To that end, the Foundation has created the Donated Equipment Program; working with industry partners, the Foundation will provide donations of equipment (e.g., sterilizers, handpieces, etc.) to help community programs throughout New York State increase their capacity to provide dental treatment to vulnerable populations. . 
 
To apply for consideration for the Foundation’s Donated Equipment Program, submit the completed attached application to: Laura Leon, director, NYS Dental Foundation, 20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 602, Albany, NY  12211, or fax to (518)465-3219. ​

​Governor Cuomo has signed into law, as Chapter 71 of the Laws of 2016, the opioid abuse legislative package passed by the New York State Legislature.  This new law limits initial prescriptions of controlled substances for acute pain to no more than a seven day supply.  It also mandates three hours of continuing education every three years in pain management for all health care professionals who hold a current United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number.  The continuing education can be taken online and can be applied to the existing 60 hours of mandatory continuing education required for dentists.  The first such course must be taken on or before July 1, 2017.  Governor Cuomo also issued his comprehensive report on the conclusion of the 2016 legislative session and its accomplishments.  To read the Governor's announcement of his signing of the opioid abuse legislation, including a summary of the provisions in the new law, use the first link below.  To read the Governor's speech on signing the opioid abuse legislation, use the second link below.  To read the Governor's complete 2016 legislative session report, use the third link below.  To read the Governor's announcement and summary of his 2016 legislative session report, use the last link below.
http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-legislation-combat-heroin-and-opioid-crisis  (Governor Cuomo announcement of signing and summary of opioid abuse legislation)
http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/video-photos-transcript-governor-cuomo-signs-legislation-combat-heroin-and-opioid-crisis  (Governor Cuomo speech on signing opioid abuse legislation)
https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/2016EndofSessionReport.pdf  (Governor Cuomo complete 2016 legislative session report)
http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-highlights-achievements-2016-legislation-session  (Governor Cuomo announcement and summary of 2016 legislative session report)

​The ADA News (6/30) reported the University at Buffalo announced its S-Miles To Go Mobile Dental Program received $371,000, a 50 percent increase in state funding, to “expand to three counties and double access to care for underserved children in rural areas.” The mobile dental program “seeks to address barriers to health care that exist in rural settings, which include inadequate transportation, few sources of fluoridated water, a shortage of pediatric dentists and a lack of clinics that accept Medicaid.” The bump in state funding “allows the programs to purchase portable dental equipment than can be transported to schools, allowing dental hygienists to visit the sites and perform oral health screenings, cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatment.” Dr. Stephen Abel, associate dean for student, community and professional initiatives, said the mobile dental program helps train dental students and demonstrates the challenges of treating patients in rural settings.

​Good afternoon, and thank you, as always, for allowing me the opportunity to present to you about the activities of the New York State Dental Foundation.
I want to start with an update on the dental demonstration project that the Foundation worked on with NYSDA. I am happy to report that we are receiving another year of funding from the State – more details regarding what’s next will follow once we get the paperwork from the Governor’s office, but today I can focus on what we were able to accomplish to date.
NYSDA and the Foundation conducted four dental demonstrations: Ovid Community Health in Ovid (13 November 2015 and 4-5 March 2016) and Oak Orchard Community Health in Brockport (19 March 2015).
 
The expenditures from the Year One grant only amounted to $60,597.39 (out of the initial $250,000 outlay). We were able to provide $78,000 worth of dental treatment to 167 patients ranging in age from 2 to 87. This shows a $1.25:$1 ratio of treatment value to expense. However, it is important to note that this ratio does not take into consideration the amount and dollar value of time volunteered by members of the dental profession and auxiliary staff and volunteers. As we move forward with Year 2 of the project, we confidently anticipate that, by leveraging our experience to date, the dollar value of treatment provided will multiply, even as the number of potential patients increases.
 
For the rest of my report, I’m going to focus on three very exciting new initiatives. The first is the New York State Dental Foundation Donated Equipment Program. As dentistry’s premier philanthropic and charitable organization in the state, the Foundation builds relationships to help make a difference in our communities through better oral health. Working with industry partners to provide donations of equipment and supplies, we will assist organizations to further their outreach and improve access to care to those in need.
 
Secondly, on May 16th, we will launch the NYSDF Volunteer Registry, which, as you may remember, is our way to recognize the volunteerism done by our profession. The registry will record hours spent providing pro bono charitable dental care to vulnerable and at risk populations. Participants will receive an annual certificate commemorating that commitment; in turn, NYSDA will be able to show policymakers the total number of hours volunteered by the profession that dentists truly go the distance to ensure a healthier population.
Finally, to further promote the Volunteer Registry, we are spearheading a statewide Veterans Smile Day promotion, during which participating dentists can screen and treat veterans in their offices on Veterans Day – or throughout that week. Dentists may also decide for themselves the amount of care they wish to provide veterans, and also whether they would like to open up the program to that veteran’s immediate family.  Participants can determine how many patients they wish to see, depending on their availability and wishes. All veterans qualify for the program. And, of course, participating dentists can then submit their hours to the Volunteer Registry.
 
With this promotion, we will work closely with Membership & Communications as well as with the Journal to really try to get a lot of promotion out of this initiative.
 
I wanted to end by saying that I look forwarding to hosting all of you at our annual Foundation of Excellence luncheon, which will be Saturday, June 4, at the House of Delegates meeting. 

​The NYS Department of Health’s Division of Family Health (DFH) welcomes Dionne Richardson, D.D.S. M.P.H. to NYS Department of Health.   Dr. Richardson joined DFH on January 25, 2016 as Dental Public Health Epidemiologist.  In this role, she will  provide consultation and direction for oral health services and provide leadership in establishing and implementing strategies and policies to improve and enhance oral health services for New Yorkers. 
 
Dr. Richardson was most recently the dental director for the Mississippi State Department of Health and has more than 20 years of post-doctoral training and experience in the field of oral health. Dr. Richardson completed her undergraduate work at Xavier University of Louisiana and received her D.D.S from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Tennessee.  She received her Master of Public Health degree through the University of Rochester Medical Center and is a graduate of our Department’s Dental Public Health Residency program.  Her current work as a state dental director includes overseeing programs providing valuable public health services to the maternal and child health population such as school based health center sealant programs and other similar programs to improve oral health across the lifespan.  

We've rounded up the biggest steps forward in oral health care policy this year. In 2015, solutions to expand dental care access and other preventive measures continued to take root across the United States.

A look back » ​

The Capital District Red Cross is building community support for homeless and in need veterans with its Totes of Hope program. As part of its the Annual Stand-Down, the Red Cross, working with the New York State Dental Foundation, is providing services such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other necessary services like housing and substance abuse treatment, to homeless veterans as part of one to three day events.

The Foundation is providing toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.

Stand-Downs in the military are traditionally associated with a break in combat when troops are brought in to a safe haven for a period of rest, relaxation, hot meals and a chance to be free from the rigors of war. This also applies to homeless veterans in the area, who need to be free from the rigors of the street.

To participate or find out more about Stand-Downs, go to the www.RedCross.org or check out the attached flyer.