Fulton County Health Services and the Neighborhood Union Health Center want to reach the 30% of Georgians* who did not have their teeth cleaned in 2009.  The Neighborhood Union will host a Dental Hygiene Screening Day on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Neighborhood Union is located at 186 Sunset Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30314.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) point to the need for Georgians to protect their dental health.  They include the following dental health facts about Georgians:

• 56 percent of 3rd graders have experienced cavities (treated and untreated)
• 49.2 percent of Adults 65+ have lost 6 or more teeth
• 23.1 percent of adults 65+ have lost all of their teeth

Nationally, the CDC indicates, “oral health problems are common and painful.�

• Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children aged 2–5 and half of those aged 12–15. About half of all children and two-thirds of children aged 12–19 from low-income families have had decay.
• Twenty percent of all adolescents aged 12–19 years currently have untreated tooth decay.
• Advanced gum disease affects 4%–12% of adults. Half of the cases of severe gum disease in the United States are the result of cigarette smoking. Three times as many smokers have gum disease as people who have never smoked.

The American Dental Hygienists Association recommends regular dental cleanings every six months (or as recommended by a hygienist) to reduce the risks of periodontal disease in children and adults and to prevent cavities, which can later lead to potentially expensive treatment or loss of teeth.

For more information, call Neighborhood Union at 404-612-4665.

*Statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control

Fulton County Health Center Locations

• Adamsville Health Center,3699 Bakers Ferry Rd., S.E, Atlanta, Georgia 30331
• Aldredge Health Center, 99 Jesse Hill Jr., Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
• The Center for Health and Rehabilitation, 265 Boulevard, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30312
• Center Hill Health Center, 3201 Atlanta Industrial Pkwy., Atlanta, Georgia 30318
• College Park Health Center, 1920 John Wesley Ave., College Park, Georgia 30337
• Lakewood Health Center ,1853 Jonesboro Rd., S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30315
• Neighborhood Union Health Center, 186 Sunset Ave., N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30314
• North Fulton Health Center (North Fulton), 3155 Royal Drive, Suite 125, Alpharetta, GA 30004
• North Fulton Government Service Center, 7741 Roswell Road, Room 102, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30350

Call 404-730-1211 to find out what services are offered at the clinic nearest you.