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Delta Dental of Illinois Announces Major Gift to University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
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| Copyright: | PR Newswire | | Source: | PR Newswire | | Wordcount: | 490 |
LISLE, Ill., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Illinois has made a
$250,000, five-year grant to the University of Illinois at Chicago College of
Dentistry to modernize the existing pre-doctoral dentistry clinic. When the
renovations are complete, the clinic will be named the Delta Dental of
Illinois Pre-doctoral Pediatric Dentistry Clinic.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071219/AQW128)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070809/AQTH133LOGO)
The contribution will help the UIC Department of Pediatric Dentistry
create a state-of-the-art pre-doctoral pediatric dentistry clinic. "This gift
will provide faculty, students and patients with a completely modern facility
in which to deliver high quality dental care and oral health education," said
Dr. Robert Dennison, CEO of Delta Dental of Illinois.
The 2,500 square-foot, 14-chair clinic will feature innovative equipment
such as digital radiographs; new sedation areas and operatories with new
dental chairs, cabinetry and piped-in nitrous oxide; advanced radiological
equipment; and educational tools. "The improvements can also serve as
distraction devices for children, such as televisions in every dental unit,"
said Dr. Indru Punwani, Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
Construction is expected to be completed during the summer of 2008.
The clinic's new design will comply with the Federal Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements and includes
facilities for special needs residents. Rooms will be provided to parents or
caregivers to accompany their children to treatment when appropriate.
The clinic currently serves 40,000 patients a year and is the largest
provider of dental services to children on Medicaid in Illinois. Tooth decay
is found in nearly five times as many children who live in lower-income
families compared to children from higher-income families. Unfortunately, the
dental problems are often left untreated and in Illinois, only 27.6 percent of
Medicaid eligible children received any kind of dental services in 2003.
The concern for dental care is of great importance to Delta Dental of
Illinois. For 40 years, the company has been helping to improve access to oral
health care and education for the people and children of Illinois. Dr.
Dennison noted that, "An essential part of Delta Dental of Illinois' mission
is the improvement of the oral health of the communities it serves."
Delta Dental of Illinois has been able to reach out to its communities
with the help of community-based clinics, elementary schools, health care
professionals, and dental schools. Dr. Dennison said the grant "will help
establish good oral health that could last a lifetime for the children treated
at the clinic and make oral health more accessible for underserved
individuals."
Delta Dental of Illinois (DDIL) is a not-for-profit dental service
corporation specializing in providing comprehensive, easy-to-use and
cost-effective benefits to over one million employees and family members in
more than 3,200 employee groups throughout Illinois. Based in Lisle, Ill.,
DDIL offers an array of extensive nationwide network-based managed
fee-for-service, PPO and dental HMO plans.
Contact: Tim Woods Delta Dental of Illinois 630-724-4122 twoods@deltadentalil.com
SOURCE Delta Dental of Illinois
CONTACT: Tim Woods of Delta Dental of Illinois, +1-630-724-4122, twoods@deltadentalil.com
This is a news service of Thomson Business Intelligence Service ©2006. This content is for your personal use only, subject to Terms and Conditions. No redistribution allowed.
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