[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1714-E1715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE UAB DENTISTRY CARES COMMUNITY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, it is the privilege of the State of Alabama 
and the City of Birmingham to be the site of the University of Alabama 
at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry, host to the second annual UAB 
Dentistry Cares Community Day held on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. UAB 
Dentistry Cares is an event that brings together UAB and community 
volunteers, sponsors and partners to provide one day of free dental 
treatment and oral health education to the homeless and underserved, 
giving priority to patients suffering from dental infections or pain. 
It was my pleasure to be able to see this event first-hand and the 
dedicated work provided by everyone involved, including the dental 
students, was truly impressive.
  Recognizing that lack of Medicaid dental coverage for adults has 
created a pressing need for primary care dental treatment among the 
low-income, UAB School of Dentistry and Alabama Dental Association 
leadership have collaborated on initiatives such as an incentive 
program to encourage dentists to establish practices in rural and 
underserved areas of the state. In 2012, the groups also joined to 
establish the first UAB Dentistry Cares Community Day which was held in 
October 2013. The day-long event provided emergency dental treatment to 
over 300 needy adults. Services included examinations, blood pressure 
checks, x-rays, almost 100 dental cleanings and 130 dental fillings, 
and over 300 dental extractions, all at an estimated cost of $130,000.
  The event has grown to include many sponsors and partners. This year, 
over 400 needy adults were provided with free dental treatment at one 
of four clinic sites around the Birmingham area. UAB School of 
Dentistry

[[Page E1715]]

served as the primary site, while Christ Health Center, The Foundry and 
Jefferson County Health Department dental clinics offered their 
facilities as an extension of the event.
  UAB School of Dentistry is among very few dental schools in the 
country to host this type of benevolent event through its partnerships 
with The Caring Foundation--BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Henry 
Schein, UAB School of Public Health, Alabama Dental Association, 
Brasseler USA, Courtyard Marriott & SpringHill Suites, OKU Honor 
Society, Oral Arts Dental Laboratories, UAB Health System, and numerous 
private supporters. In addition to the Alabama Dental Association and 
three companion sites, other event partners include the Birmingham 
District Dental Society, Cahaba Valley Health Care, Fortis Institute 
School of Dental Hygiene, Samford School of Pharmacy and UAB School of 
Nursing.
  Since its founding in 1948, the UAB School of Dentistry has developed 
a rich history of healthcare innovation and gained an international 
reputation for excellence. With an accredited predoctoral and eight 
accredited postdoctoral areas of study, the School is a world class 
institution ranking number one in funding from the National Institutes 
of Dental and Craniofacial Research, with a 100% pass rate for students 
on National Board exams and a positive track record for community 
outreach and collaboration. The UAB School of Dentistry continues to 
supply the City of Birmingham and the State of Alabama with nothing but 
the world's most equipped and knowledgeable scholars and dentists, a 
tradition of research and rich community outreach experiences like UAB 
Dentistry Cares day of service.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
combined efforts of the UAB School of Dentistry and its partners who 
have given of their time and talents to provide critical dental care to 
Alabama's underserved. Let us congratulate UAB School of Dentistry and 
its partners on this successful approach to the pressing access to care 
problem in their state.

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