America’s ToothFairy and Align Technology Join Forces to Enhance Oral Health Education

USA: With an alarming 58 million Americans living in areas where access to dental care professionals is limited, only 32.4% of the population is able to receive sufficient dental care. To address this gap, nonprofit organization America’s ToothFairy has launched a robust initiative aimed at improving access to oral health education and preventive care for children in underserved communities. The foundation’s efforts focus on providing crucial educational resources and materials in regions facing shortages of dental professionals.

Jill Malmgren, executive director of America’s ToothFairy, highlighted the need for prevention-focused initiatives, explaining: “Dental disease is often preventable, but many oral health initiatives prioritize restorative care over prevention. This often results in a cycle of treatment—drilling, filling, and pulling—where children receive care only while experiencing severe pain or for costly, invasive procedures.”

Empowering Communities Through Education

In response to the ongoing dental care challenges, America’s ToothFairy has launched the Health Education Resources and Outreach (HERO) Program. This initiative, which provides oral health educational materials and outreach kits, empowers community volunteers, health advocates, and dental professionals to promote dental disease prevention. The aim is to educate children and their caregivers about the importance of maintaining oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.

“Since 2020, with support from Align Technology, we’ve developed innovative methods to help oral health educators provide families with essential information for adopting healthy dental hygiene habits at home,” Malmgren said, underscoring the foundation’s commitment to breaking the cycle of reactive care in favor of proactive prevention.

Impacting Thousands of Families

The HERO Program, with support from Align Technology, had a significant reach during the 2024 fiscal year, which ended on June 30th. The program reached over 900,000 children and caregivers through various initiatives:

• Over 600,000 children, including 33,500 who speak a language other than English, were provided with downloadable educational materials from AmericasToothFairy.org.
• 43,250 children benefited from the ToothFairy 101® Community Education Kits, which were distributed to educators, public health workers, and dental professionals.
• Nearly 268,000 people were reached through sponsored awareness campaigns, which utilized educational materials and social media outreach to promote oral health education.

Julie Paulsen, vice president of Philanthropy, Inclusion, and Wellness at Align Technology, also serves as the Board Secretary of America’s ToothFairy. She noted the importance of the collaboration, stating: “A vibrant and healthy smile can have a lasting impact on a child’s life. Align is honored to partner with America’s ToothFairy on joint efforts to equip families and caregivers in underserved communities with the resources they need to help prevent dental disease and enhance oral health outcomes for children.”

Align Technology’s Continued Support

Align Technology, a corporate underwriter of America’s ToothFairy since 2007, has played a critical role in expanding the foundation’s outreach efforts. As the Title Sponsor of the HERO Program since 2019, Align has contributed to the program’s efforts in reaching an estimated 2.7 million children, caregivers, and parents across the country. The company’s support has helped America’s ToothFairy provide vital educational resources to communities most in need.

About America’s ToothFairy

Since its founding in 2006, America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation has been dedicated to increasing access to oral health care for underserved children. The nonprofit supports dental clinics and community partners in providing educational, preventive, and treatment services. To date, the foundation has reached 14.8 million children and caregivers, distributing millions of dollars in donated products, grants, and educational materials. For more information, visit AmericasToothFairy.org.

About Align Technology

Align Technology is a leader in the design and manufacture of the Invisalign System, the most advanced clear aligner system available. In addition to its Invisalign offerings, Align also provides iTero intraoral scanners and exocad CAD/CAM software, helping to enhance digital workflows for dental practices worldwide. Since its inception, Align has supported over 266,000 doctors in treating more than 18.2 million patients with the Invisalign System. More information on Align’s offerings can be found at aligntech.com, invisalign.com, itero.com, and exocad.com.