March 29, 2006
News media calls to David Hass at (630) 682-7979, ext. 7374.

DuPage County Health Department announces Winner in contest to name new mobile dental clinic

A fifth grade student at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Glen Ellyn is the winner of the competition to name the DuPage County Health Department’s new dental clinic on wheels.

The winning name entered by Ben Van Gorp for the vehicle is “The Smile Squad, We Drive Miles to Make Smiles.”

A pizza party for the winning student’s class is planned in early April. The winner will also recognized during the April meeting of the DuPage County Board of Health.

The winning name will be painted on the side of the mobile dental clinic, which will be traveling throughout the county later this year to serve the dental needs of youngsters who do not have access to dental care due to income or lack of insurance.

“We thank everyone who sent in more than 150 clever, fun and creative ideas for the name,” said Mila Tsagalis, manager of the health department’s dental services program. She said it was very hard to make the final decision because there were so many good entries.

The health department received funding from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation to purchase a fully equipped mobile dental vehicle, which has been ordered and should be ready to go this fall. This mobile dental clinic will provide the same treatment that is provided in a professional dental office.

Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common that hay fever, according to federal studies on oral health. The health department also recognizes that there are communities with children in need of dental services throughout DuPage County.

During February, which was national Children’s Dental Health Month, the health department held this contest for children (kindergarten to eighth grade) to name this dental clinic on wheels.

“We promote health, prevent illness, and provide quality service”