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ForsythKids Partners with Delta Dental of Massachusetts to Expand Oral Health Care Offering in Quincy
ForsythKids, a mobile dental program bringing care to underserved communities, will expand its school-based program in Quincy, Massachusetts with support from Delta Dental of Massachusetts.
QUINCY, MA — ForsythKids, a mobile dental program serving underserved communities, is expanding its school-based oral health care program in Quincy, Massachusetts, thanks to support from Delta Dental of Massachusetts, the leading dental benefits administrator in the state. A storied Boston-area program with more than a century of service, ForsythKids is led by the nonprofit ADA Forsyth Institute (AFI), a global leader in oral health research and education.
ForsythKids will visit Quincy’s Rosemary & Archie Wahlberg Head Start Early Learning Center on Nov. 18 to provide oral care to children. With funding from Delta Dental of Massachusetts, the program will expand its reach during the 2024–25 school year by serving more children and increasing staff presence at future visits in Quincy.
Through its highly efficient operations, the ADA Forsyth Institute maximizes every dollar to deliver additional dental examinations, cleanings, sealants, and fluoride varnish to students who might otherwise go without care. The program also provides toothpaste, toothbrushes, oral hygiene instruction, and referrals to community dentists as needed.
Providing oral health education and care has been central to AFI’s mission since 1914, when the organization began serving children in Boston’s lower-income neighborhoods. As one of the world’s first dental infirmaries dedicated to children, AFI has treated nearly 750,000 children and continues to identify community outreach as a core component of its mission.
“Oral care from an early age is crucial to building healthy habits and avoiding disease later in life. We are grateful for Delta Dental of Massachusetts’ support in promoting oral care and assisting us with reaching underserved communities.”
— Megan Pugach-Gordon, Director of ForsythKids
ForsythKids has been working with children in Quincy since 2021, establishing a strong relationship with the Head Start program. According to a 2023–24 report from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, more than 47% of pre-K children in the community experience economic hardship, and 72.6% are identified as having high needs.
Head Start is a federally funded early learning program supporting the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of children ages 0–5. The program is free for qualifying low-income families and offers opportunities for parents to engage in their children’s early education.
During the 2023–24 school year, ForsythKids treated approximately 2,600 children. With support from Delta Dental of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, ForsythKids is able to provide dental care free of charge to families without insurance coverage.
“Ensuring that all residents have access to quality medical care is a fundamental responsibility of public service, especially when it comes to caring for vulnerable children. I’m proud of the House’s past support for ForsythKids and thrilled that the program is expanding in my home city of Quincy.”
— House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy)
Delta Dental of Massachusetts seeks to power effective dental care for underserved communities and support direct dental services that improve health outcomes across the Commonwealth.
“Oral health is directly linked to overall health and wellbeing, and we know that access to preventive dental care is critical from a young age. ForsythKids’ mobile, school-based dental program provides an important access point for children and families, and Delta Dental is proud to support the expansion of this initiative in the City of Quincy.”
— Erik Montlack, President, Delta Dental of Massachusetts
Tooth decay—the most common childhood disease in the United States—results in more than 51 million lost school hours each year. Untreated dental disease can lead to pain, difficulty eating and speaking, reduced classroom focus, low self-esteem, and long-term health consequences.
Among a cohort of 7,000 children examined in a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, the percentage of children with untreated cavities decreased from 39% to 19% after receiving care through ForsythKids.
About Delta Dental of Massachusetts
Delta Dental of Massachusetts (www.deltadentalma.com), the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, is a leader in innovative programs that improve the overall health of members, prevent oral disease, and reduce health care costs for employers, groups, and individuals. Headquartered in Charlestown, Mass., Delta Dental of Massachusetts, a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (www.deltadental.com), covers more than 2 million people.
Follow us on X (@DeltaDentalofMA), Facebook (www.facebook.com/DeltaDentalMA), and Instagram (@deltadentalofma).
About the ADA Forsyth Institute
The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children to provide dental care to disadvantaged children in Boston. While continuing to serve children in need, the Institute began focusing on scientific research in 1915 and is today the world’s leader in oral health research. In October 2023, the Institute joined with the American Dental Association to form the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving oral and overall health through research, innovation, and global public health outreach. Consistent with its founding mission, the ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.
