State Director of Health Commends Ohio Dentists and ODH Bureau of Oral Health for Serving Tho...( COLUMBUS Ohio Sept. 24 -- The ne...),Health

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The new director of the Ohio Dept. of Health, Dr. Alvin Jackson thanked Ohio dentists for their efforts to help improve the oral health of disadvantaged Ohioans at the 2007 Ohio Dental Association's Annual Session. Jackson addressed the association's House of Delegates on Sept. 14, commending the Dental OPTIONS (Ohio Partnership To Improve Oral health through access to Needed Services) program for its ten years of significant service to those in need. OPTIONS is a partnership developed in 1997 between the Ohio Dental Association and Ohio Department of Health.

Jackson applauded the success of the program, which in 10 years has provided over $9 million in free dental services to more than 10,000 Ohio patients.

"The Dental OPTIONS program has done so much in the past 10 years in meeting the oral health needs of some of Ohio's most vulnerable citizens," Jackson said. "It is my privilege as State Director of Health to recognize and thank the OPTIONS dentists and dental labs for their commitment to provide dental services to underserved populations."

During his presentation, Dr. Jackson also presented a proclamation from Governor Ted Strickland to the Ohio Dental Association and Ohio Dept. of Health Bureau of Oral Health Services, acknowledging the success of this public/private partnership and their combined efforts to change the lives of Ohio citizens.

The Dental OPTIONS program serves individuals often described as the working poor; they have no private dental insurance or Medicaid eligibility and few financial resources.

Dr. Jackson assumed his position with the Ohio Department of Health this past June, and lists as his top priorities "patient education and disease prevention" as he works with the public and private sectors to help protect and improve the health of all Ohioans.

To learn more about oral health and programs of the Ohio Dental Association, visit