Harold Hillenbrand, DDSExecutive Director EmeritusAmerica Dental Association

Harry Lyons, DDS Dean Emeritus

School of Dentistry Medical College of Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University

Raymond Nagle, DMDDean Emeritus

School of Dentistry

New York University College

Maynard K. Hine, DDSChancellor Emeritus

Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis

Andrew M. HoweFormer Director of Special ProjectsWm. Wrigley Jr. Company

Henry M. Thorton Chairman Emeritus DENTSPLY International

Gerald Timmons, DDS

Dean Emeritus

School of Dentistry Temple University

FOUNDERSO

HA

S‘

The Foundation for Dental Education incorporates in Indiana, raising $13,600. The name is changed to The American Fund for Dental Education and is reincorporated in Illinois.

The first Dental Teacher Training Fellowship is awarded with funding from American Dental Trade Association (ADTA) member companies. The Fund establishes a Chicago-based office.

The first dental laboratory technology scholarships are awarded. The Fund commits $250,000 over five years to the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS) to establish a Division of Educational Research.

The Fund moves to Chicago’s historical Wrigley Building, on the Magnificent Mile, where it awards the first scholarships to dental assistanting and dental hygiene students.

The Fund becomes America’s Fund for Dental Education. A memorial fund is established to accept donations honoring friends, family members, and colleagues. America’s Fund for Dental Education awards the first of two $1,000 grants to each dental school.

The Fund’s office relocates to the new American Dental Association building. The Fund passes the $2 million mark in funds raised during its first ten years.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation awards the Fund a challenge grant of $177,500 to establish a Minority Dental Student Scholarship for disadvantaged African American students.

The first Hillenbrand Dental Administration Fellowship is awarded with support from the ADA, ADTA, and the Fund. The Minority Dental Student Scholarship is expanded to include other minorities underrepresented in dentistry.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards the Fund $4 million to administer a loan and scholarship program to increase the number of dentists practicing in underserved areas.

The Fund’s mission is expanded to include support for research and service programs. The name is changed to the American Fund for Dental Health (AFDH). The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation selects the AFDH to administer a $4.7 million grant to train dental students to treat noninstitutionalized handicapped persons.

O H A T I M E L I N E

1955

1958

1961

1962

1963

1966

1968

1970

1972

1973

The Fund’s twentieth anniversary marks over 750 scholarships awarded to dental laboratory technology, assisting and hygiene students with over 150 fellowships awarded for dental teacher training.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation selects the AFDH to administer a $2.5 million four-year grant for the National Dental Quality Program.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation selects the AFDH to administer the $6.3 million National Prevention Dentistry Demonstration Program. A Bequest Program enables donors to include the AFDH in their estate planning and wills.

The Fund hosts its first Awards Dinner Dance at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Annual revenue exceeds $2 million for the first time in the Fund’s history. Grants support ADA’s first health screening program, study the health effects of mercury, and provide data on the practicing trends of women dentists.

The National Conference on Dental Care for the Handicapped is sponsored by the AFDH, AADS, and the ADA with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Henry J. Kaiser Foundation gives a $150,000 three-year grant to expand the Minority Dental Student Scholarship.

The Fund is awarded a grant to conduct a national conference on the role of dental hygiene in caring for handicapped patients.

With major support from the ADTA member companies, the AFDH helps fund the ADA satellite video conference “Building Your Dental Practice,” and the first ADA OPTIONS program for dental students on dental practice management.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation selects the AFDH to administer a $1.5 million grant to support a study to identify children at risk for dental caries.

Grants support studies on fear reduction, sterilization, and safety procedures in dental offices and the development of the National Curriculum for Dental Educators. Major support is provided to the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped.

A five-year strategic plan is approved to expand the Fund’s role as one of the nation’s leading advocates for dental health.

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1983

1985

1987

1988

1994America’s Fund for Dental

Education becomes Oral Health America – America’s Fund for Dental Health.

NSTEP® (The National

Spit Tobacco Education

Program) is established to

prevent people, especially

young people, from starting

to use spit tobacco, and

to help all users quit.

Neil Romano signs on as

spokesperson.

1997Special Olympics Special Smiles is established. US

Olympic Silver Medalist

Wrestler Matt Ghaffari

kicks off Seal-A-Million

Campaign Challenge.

Oral Health America

establishes the National

Sealant Alliance to

advocate and support

programs that improve

access to dental sealants.

1999Special Olympics Special Smiles provides athletes with oral exams,

instructions, and nutrition information.

Dionne Warwick and former women’s

#1 ranked tennis champion Tracy

Austin attend Special Olympics Special Smiles luncheon.

Garth Brooks becomes a

national spokesperson for NSTEP®

(The National Spit Tobacco

Education Program), as does

Hall of Fame broadcaster

Joe Garagiola.

2000First ever U.S. Surgeon General’s report on

oral health in America is released, and OHA

redoubles its efforts to raise public awareness of

oral health’s importance to overall health. Oral

Health America commits to seal one million teeth

by 2010. The first CDC Cooperative agreement

is reached. OHA releases first ever state-by-

state oral health report card, Missing the Mark.

2001Filling the Gap, the

second state-by-

state oral health

report, is released.

2003State of Decay report

card is released and

a hearing is held with

Senator Breaux of LA.

Keep America Smiling report card is released.

2004Smiles Across America® is born

through funding from the Michael

Reese Health Trust for the provision

of care for non-Medicaid eligible

and uninsured children in Chicago.

2005The A for Effort report card is

released to recognize nine state

models for oral health care and

provides practical steps for

improvement.

A State of Decayt h e o r a l h e a l t h o f o l d e r a m e r i c a n s

Funded in pa r t by the W.K . Ke l logg Foundat ion

Campaign for Oral Health Parity

A n O r a l H e a lt h A m e r i c a S p e c i a l G r a d i n g P r o j e c tS e p te m b e r 2 0 03

N at i o n a l G r a d e : D

2006National Periodontal

Disease Coalition

formed to recognize

the growing problem

of periodontal disease

among Americans.

2008Trident signs $1.5M, 3-year

agreement with Oral Health

America.

Robert Klaus retires after

20 years of leadership.

OHA develops new strategic

plan focused on access,

education, and advocacy.

Beth Truett arrives.

2009National Smile Month is launched.

OHA honors Dr. Hazel Harper with

the Marvin Goldstein Outstanding

Volunteer Award.

Oral Health Kansas commissions

OHA to produce a report card,

“Keep Kansas Smiling,” on the state

of children’s oral health. Oral Health

America creates new logo and

brand identity.

Jennie Garth becomes a national

spokesperson for Smiles Across

America®. Wisdom Tooth Project®

is established. OHA hosts the

Collaborative Health Care for Older

Adults: A Symposium for Creating

Dialogue Medicine and Dentistry.

2010 Fall for Smiles

campaign launches.

OHA awards Dr. George Blue

Spruce, the first American Indian

dentist, with the Marvin Goldstein

Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Oral Health America fulfills

sealing one million teeth by 2010

and launches Seal Two Million

campaign at Greater New York

Dental Meeting.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

is honored for his support of

oral health in the Affordable

Care Act.

2011 Smiles Across America®

impacts 350,000 children

and is ahead of schedule

to Seal Two Million teeth

by 2020.

SAA awards first-ever

Innovation Grants to

five organizations

across the nation.

OHA honors US Senator

Ben Cardin (D-MD) for

his leadership in bringing

about policy changes to

reduce disparities.

2012 Oral Health America moves to

current location at 180 North

Michigan, Suite 1150.

OHA launches first Bernard

and Kathleen Beazley Summer

Internship Program, funded by the

late couple’s planned gift.

OHA honors US Senator

Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for

his leadership around oral health

policy. Oral Health America

impacts 400,000

children through Smiles

Across America®.

OHA supports “2Min2x” Ad

Council Campaign with a

$100,000 commitment.

OUR MISSIONOral Health America’s mission is to change lives by connecting communities with resources to increase

access to care, education, and advocacy for all Americans, especially those most vulnerable.