May 25, 2000-Denver Community Voices is working to break what U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher called a "silent crisis" on oral health in a major report released today in Washington, DC.

Denver Community Voices is beginning its first efforts to increase oral health care in their area by implementing a program to improve access to dental care for local residents. Denver has already completed an educational program for primary care physicians. This was the first step towards increasing awareness about dental access. The next step in the dental awareness campaign, called "Putting the Teeth Back into Primary Care," involves providing dental services to local communities.

"We are working hard to set an example for other health centers nationwide by developing strategies for increasing oral health access for children," said Dr. Patricia A. Gabow, CEO and Medical Director of Denver Health. "The report by the Surgeon General will help put some teeth into our local effort."

According to Dr. Gabow, accessible dental care is a universal goal among Community Voices programs nationwide.

The Denver Community Voices Collaborative is actively trying to establish a model program addressing oral health for all local residents. The governor of Colorado, Bill Owens, has already formed a special Blue Ribbon Commission on Oral Health. In addition, a $400,000 grant from the TANF Dental Fund Program will help provide dental services to 600 clients of the Denver Department of Human Services.