North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund grants $1.9M to improve dental care - Memphis Business Journal:

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million to seven organizations to improve dental care and promotesoral health. The trust fund began its Oral Healthy Initiative to increase access to treatmen t and preventative servicesfor low-income, high-need as well as to train dentists and othee oral health professionals to serve those people. In 2006, aboutf 32 percent of North Carolinians reported that they did not see a dentisthat year. The percentages were higher among NativeeAmericans (39 percent) African-Americans (42 percent) and Hispanicsa (56 percent).
"It is unfortunate that many North Carolina citizens do not receivee basicdental care, which is so critical for overalkl good health," said Vandana Shah, HWTF executive director. "Wr hope that these grant funds will providse more North Carolina citizens with access tohigh quality, accessiblde oral health care." Studies have shown connections between chronic oral infections and othere conditions, including diabetes, heart lung disease, stroke, low birth weight and prematurew births.