Seal America -- An Olympic Challenge Awaits You

By Matt Ghaffari

Eyes fixed on eyes ... feet circling slowly but surely ... hearing only the pulse echoing in my head -- and then, explosive drive, impact, and slam. I have lived such moments many times in my life, competing in Olympic-style wrestling going back to my youth. It is always exciting, always fresh, always rewarding, even when not rewarded. I have been able to experience these moments and share them vicariously with others because I have been blessed -- blessed with a natural desire to succeed, a sound body, a healthy work habit, excellent coaching, and support from others. Surely, there are other future Olympians out there, but more importantly, scores of young people who will be successful in life if they get off to the right start and have the right support. That is why I have signed on with Oral Health America -- America's Fund for Dental Health, to help young people be healthy by receiving protective dental sealants.

Did you know that dental sealants have been around for nearly 25 years? Are you aware that fewer than 1-in-5 school-aged children in the United States have received dental sealants and that for poor and dentally uninsured children, the number is 1-in-10? And did you know that most of the dental decay that children experience today occurs on the pit and fissured surfaces of teeth -- those that can be protected by sealants? I did not know these things until recently; but now that I do, I must do something about it.

Oral Health America has committed itself to helping achieve the national Healthy People 2000 goal of 50 percent of school-aged children receiving dental sealants in their permanent teeth. Given that there are more than 125,000 practicing dentists in the United States, nearly 18,000 in California, and even larger numbers of dental auxiliaries, we have a large and skilled team for attacking this challenge. Dental sealants are covered in many insurance programs, including Medicaid. I am told that all dentists learn how to apply sealants while in dental school and that most dentists have the knowledge and skills to treat at-risk children in their practices.

I have seen the terrible toll that ill health -- including poor dental health -- can exact from children, especially poor children. As a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, I have had access to necessary medical and dental care. I understand how critical a sound, healthy body is to achieving one's goals in life, whether they be athletic, academic, social, or spiritual. I would not have achieved my Olympic dream if I had been burdened with poor dental health.

My Olympic challenge to you is to get involved and take action. I know that you have trained long and hard to become the professionals that you are. You possess special skills that the majority of people will never realize. That provides you with special opportunities and responsibilities -- just like an Olympic athlete. Join with your association in Oral Health America's National Sealant Alliance. Take up the national "Seal-a-Million Challenge" to provide a million additional sealants nationally to underserved children by the year 2002. This is a large challenge, but one that we can meet if we clasp hands and pull together.

For more information about the National Sealant Alliance, call Dr. Teran Gall, CDA's director of special projects, at (916) 443-3382, Ext. 4490, or Oral Health America -- America's Fund for Dental Health, at (312) 836-9900.

Author

Matt Ghaffari was a silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. He is currently head assistant wrestling coach at Cleveland State University and a motivational speaker.