Land of Smiles® Show Visits Parker Road Primary School Students

With tooth decay remaining the leading chronic disease affecting children1 and 29% of Missouri third graders having untreated cavities,2 establishing essential oral health habits at an early age has never been more vital. Delta Dental of Missouri, the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a non-profit organization, is tackling this issue through its popular Land of Smiles® dental education program, teaching kindergarten through third-grade students essential oral health habits. Since 2002, this free, interactive program – featuring superhero Captain Super Grin® and his sidekicks – has impacted 1.2 million kids across 113 Missouri counties through in-person and virtual elementary school performances. This winter and spring, an additional 30,000+ kids at 150+ schools statewide will participate, including those most recently at Parker Road Primary School in Florissant.

The Land of Smiles® experience follows Captain Super Grin® as he defeats his nemesis, Caz CavitySM, with help from Terri Tooth FairySM and ToothpickSM. Students learn the importance of brushing teeth twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash, eating healthy foods and visiting the dentist regularly. The program includes an oral health curriculum that adheres to National and Missouri Health Education Standards, and offers engaging, age-appropriate materials in English and Spanish. In addition, participating students receive free “smile bags” with a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. Caregivers can also access an important educational program recap video at https://www.landofsmilesmo.org/parent-caregiver-information.

“Students show an average of 34% improvement in good oral health behavior and knowledge after seeing a performance, according to our pre- and post-show survey results,” said Stacy Harris, supervisor of community outreach at Delta Dental of Missouri. “This is a very positive outcome as good dental habits developed at a young age lead to lifelong healthy smiles.”

Offered at no cost by Delta Dental of Missouri, the program reaches many high-need schools, where more than 40% have at least 70% of students enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs. Educators can request an in-person or virtual show by emailing Schools@NationalTheatre.com or visiting www.LandofSmilesMO.org.

1 National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

2 https://health.mo.gov/living/families/oralhealth/pdf/missouri-state-totals.pdf

About Delta Dental of Missouri

Delta Dental of Missouri is the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides more than 2.37 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at www.DeltaDentalMO.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.