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Baltimore, Maryland (March 7, 2011) — Thanks to a $132,294 grant from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) can provide free preventive oral care and dental awareness education to pregnant women in underserved communities. The grant will cover oral health screenings, fluoride treatments, x-rays and the production of a DVD which will increase awareness of and appreciation for proper oral care for both the pregnant mother and infant child. CareFirst will present CCBC with a ceremonial check at 8:30 a.m., March 7, at the Dental Health Clinic at CCBC Dundalk.

Under the supervision of registered dental hygienists and dentists, students enrolled in CCBC’s Dental Hygiene program will provide the free preventive oral health services starting this spring. Patients will receive a copy of the DVD as well as a complimentary bag of dental supplies including a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash. Through this program, the goal is to provide services to 30 pregnant women each month with nearly 1,000 women having received treatment by the end of CareFirst’s three-year grant.

“We are extremely grateful to CareFirst for the unique community outreach opportunity that this grant affords,”said CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis.  “We will be able to offer treatment to a population that does not often seek or cannot afford oral care, while providing an excellent learning opportunity for our students. It’s a perfect example of how private sector grants help enhance the college’s learning experience while also filling a community need.”

Pregnant mothers with gum disease are seven times more likely to go into preterm labor, according to the American Academy of pediatric Dentistry. Many women, however, are unaware of the implications that poor oral health can have on themselves and their babies and often do not seek oral care during pregnancy. Mothers with poor oral health may also be at greater risk of infecting their children with the bacteria that causes cavities, increasing their children’s caries risk at an early age.

“Our support for this program will help Baltimore-area women who are pregnant receive important dental care that they otherwise might not be able to find or afford,” said Maria Harris Tildon, CareFirst Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs. “We are excited about the scope and value of this program, which is funded as part of our overall support for maternal and child health throughout the state of Maryland.”

CCBC’s Dental Hygiene Program within the School of Health Professions program began in 2008. The program includes a mix of academic and clinical coursework designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a registered dental hygienist. As part of the required clinical coursework, dental hygiene students provide oral preventative services for the community with an emphasis on the needs of underserved populations.

In its 74th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health care company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to nearly 3.4 million individuals and groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Through its CareFirst Commitment initiative and other public mission activities, CareFirst supports efforts to increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of health care throughout its service areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit www.carefirst.com or follow CareFirst news on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CareFirst_News.

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