“While this program, which will be provided at no cost to schools and daycare centers, is new, our relationship with the Great Arizona Puppet Theater goes back several years. We have worked with them through our Foundation since 2020 to provide oral health puppet shows at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix each February – Children’s Dental Health Month – so this expands on the age-appropriate, entertaining-yet-educational programming that we have seen engage children for years,” says Barb Kozuh, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.
“Over the years we have greatly appreciated the relationship with Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. The gift of this relationship is the ability to utilize the arts as tool for effective and creative ways teaching dental health, create laughter and art experiences with these young children that will last a lifetime,” Jeffrey Lazos Ferns, interim executive director of the Great Arizona Puppet Theater.
Each show will be tailored to a specific age range and development level, and "Smile Bags" containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and fun facts about dental health will be provided for all children through the partnership as well.
“Tooth decay is the number one chronic disease among children, and studies show that children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t,” says Kozuh. “Tooth decay, and many of its associated issues including infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning, is nearly 100% preventable through proper care,” says Kozuh. “We want to empower children across Arizona to understand the importance of taking care of their teeth and to take an active role in their oral health throughout their lives.”
