2002 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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THE DENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION, IRELAND
BREEDA HYLAND
The Dental Health Foundation, Ireland

Left to Right: Patricia Gilsenan, Administration & IT Assistant; Deirdre Sadlier, Executive Director; An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern TD; Dr Brendan Pigott, Chairman; and Breeda Hyland, Projects Manager.

The Dental Health Foundation has played an integral role in raising the profile of oral health in Ireland. Operating as a charitable trust, the Foundation is a non-profit making, non-political and equal opportunities independent body. Its mission is to promote oral health in Ireland by providing effective resources or interventions, and by influencing policy through a multi-sectoral partnership approach.

 The Foundation�s commitment to an evidence-based approach to its work underpins the priority that is placed on core partnership programmes with the Department of Health and Children, the Health Promotion Unit, the health boards and universities. The Foundation also works closely with agencies and individuals within the dental profession and plays a complementary role to public health bodies on a national basis.

 Research carried out by the Foundation shows those who suffer most from oral diseases are people from disadvantaged back-grounds, members of minority groups and individuals with disabilities or special needs. As part of its current work programme, the Foundation is developing and supporting actions that will reduce these inequalities and bring about the changes needed to maintain and improve oral health for all Irish society.

 The recently published report Oral Health in Disadvantaged Schools in the Eastern Region highlighted the pressing need for a comprehensive oral health promotion strategy for the most disadvantaged groups and was one of the Foundation�s biggest undertakings in 2001.

 The publication of the Foundation�s Five-Year Strategic Initiative in 2001 helped to clarify its role and promoted the development of a range of partnership programmes. The launch of Mouthpiece in April 2002, a bi-annual news report, outlines the Foundation�s activities and progress throughout the year.
Full details about the work of the Foundation, its programmes,
publications and contact details, are available on the
Foundation�s website at: http://www.dentalhealth.ie or you can contact
the Foundation directly at [email protected]