Prosthodontists promote awareness week in March

The American College of Prosthodontists is celebrating National Prosthodontics Awareness Week March 7鈥?3.

The ACP hopes the weeklong celebration will help educate the public about the benefits of seeing a prosthodontist as well as make people better aware of proper oral health care and the treatment options for missing or restoring teeth. The campaign will also focus on community outreach programs such as oral cancer screenings, health fairs and informational announcements to raise the public’s awareness.

ACP kicked off the event at its November 2009 annual meeting with an oral cancer screening in La Mesa, Calif., where volunteers there screened 120 people and referred four to local prosthodontists for follow-up care.

In conjunction with NPAW, ACP members across the U.S. will be hosting similar events including pro bono services and educational programs regarding prosthodontic care aimed at grass-roots exposure of the many facets of the prosthodontic profession. Several states, including Illinois, California, Connecticut and Maryland, have declared the week of March 7鈥?3 National Prosthodontics Awareness Week in their respective states. ACP hopes to eventually have every state on board.

“The level of excitement and commitment by the ACP membership to NPAW has been most incredible and all for the benefit of those patients with the greatest need,” said Dr. Jonathan P. Wiens, ACP president-elect and NPAW Chair.

For more information, visit www.prosthodontics.org.