As soon as fall rolls round, all the things will get a bit busier and with the world seemingly transferring 100 miles per minute, it’s necessary to decelerate and take time to assist these in want. That’s why each October, DentaQuest staff take time to present again to their native communities and make a distinction. Whereas DentaQuest’s Mission Month has taken numerous varieties over the previous few years, this annual custom was strengthened by the participation of our colleagues at Solar Life U.S.

Mary Ann Kozlowski, supervisor of Company Giving and Partnership at DentaQuest, shared, “As a nationwide dental insurance coverage firm, our groups reside in lots of states. However throughout Mission Month we’re all united in a standard mission to serve others and enhance oral well being. Every considered one of us resides that mission as DentaQuest ambassadors whether or not it’s by delivering residence care provides to organizations whose members want a bit raise or volunteering on a neighborhood mission.”

Final month, we launched Mission Month 2022 with practically 50% of DentaQuest staff and over 325 Solar Life staff collaborating in Mission Month actions. Workers took time to assemble oral well being kits — stuffed with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss — for his or her local people nonprofits. Due to their efforts, over 70,000 oral well being kits have been donated to 39 nonprofit organizations throughout 17 states. At DentaQuest, we all know that oral and total well being are linked and to have a wholesome physique, you want a wholesome mouth. These oral well being kits present folks with the supplies they should prioritize their oral well being.

In Louisiana, Dr. Damien Cuffie — who serves in Louisiana’s Nationwide Guard — served his neighborhood by giving out toothbrush packets throughout a current go to with the Louisiana Medical Detachment at Camp Beauregard.

“Once I visited Camp Beauregard, numerous troopers could not inform me the final time they’d a correct cleansing and mentioned they solely go to the dentist when their enamel damage,” mentioned Dr. Cuffie. “Troopers from rural areas have been lacking various enamel. They wait till occasions like this clinic to get therapy. That’s why I attempt to educate [soldiers] on the significance of oral well being whereas doing examinations.”

Our mission to enhance the oral well being of all is on the middle of all the things we do. That’s why each July, we honor extraordinary people who champion equitable entry to oral well being care by way of our Well being Fairness Heroes program. And that’s why this Mission Month DentaQuest made donations in honor of our staff’ dedication to our mission to Smiles for Success and Houston Dental Equality Community — two of the organizations acknowledged by the 2022 Well being Fairness Hero program.

In contrast to earlier years, DentaQuest’s Mission Month efforts prolonged additional than the boundaries of native communities. In late September, Hurricane Ian devastated a lot of Florida’s shoreline and impacted hundreds of thousands of Floridians. DentaQuest rapidly jumped into motion and donated $500,000 to the Florida Catastrophe Fund, which assists Florida’s communities as they reply to and recuperate throughout instances of catastrophe, to assist Hurricane Ian reduction efforts.

And, as a part of this dedication, DentaQuest matched contributions made by staff to nonprofits offering help to Hurricane Ian victims. Workers joined forces and donated a complete of $5,680 which we matched for a grand whole of $11,360 contributed to reduction efforts.

“It’s extremely heartwarming to see our DentaQuest neighborhood come collectively to make a distinction — regardless of huge or small — in folks’s lives,” mentioned Mary Ann. “Yearly we’re capable of accomplish extra and supply extra assist for these in want.”