$5 M Gift Boosts Childhood Oral Health Care Offered by UW, Children'...( Washington Dental Service Building...),Health

Washington Dental Service Building for Early Childhood Oral Health at

Magnuson Park to provide 30,000 patient visits annually

SEATTLE, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Washington (UW) School of Dentistry and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center today announced they are joining forces to combat the growing crisis of childhood dental disease with the development of a new pediatric dental facility.

The new facility, located in Magnuson Park, will double the capacity of the dental programs at both institutions, providing 30,000 pediatric dental visits per year for healthy children and those with urgent or special needs.

Washington Dental Service and the Washington Dental Service Foundation have provided a lead gift of $5 million to build the facility which will house an innovative clinical, research and training program, the Early Childhood Oral Health (ECOH) program.

"There is no disease as widespread as childhood cavities, and the shame is they are nearly preventable with regular dental care," said Washington Dental Service CEO Jim Dwyer. "Washington Dental Service is committed to being part of the solution. We believe every child should have a chance to learn, play and grow up in good health. We are excited about the potential for the ECOH-WDS partnership."

Washington Dental Service's gift is the largest received by Children's for support of dental services. Children's, Washington Dental Service and the UW School of Dentistry have a long history of collaboration, developing new models for pediatric dental care and advocating for improved access to that care.

Dr. Sanford Melzer, MD, Children's senior vice president for strategic planning, notes that "this generous gift from Washington Dental Service provides the basis for an important joint effort between Children's and the UW School of Dentistry that will dramatically improve the dental care of children in our region."

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