SALISBURY — The Rowan County Health Department Smile Center received a $2,000 Smiles for Kids grant from the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) to provide prenatal dental care to more uninsured women and promote education and outreach about the importance of good oral health during pregnancy.

Recent studies by the Journal of the American Dental Association show that visiting the dentist during pregnancy is safe, and ignoring oral health problems can contribute to negative pregnancy outcomes.

Changes that occur during pregnancy can increase the mother’s risk of dental problems.

“The Delta Dental Foundation has been, and continues to be, a tremendous benefactor to Rowan County,” said N.C. Rep. Harry Warren, R-Salisbury. “For years, the foundation’s generosity has helped local organizations meet the critical dental needs of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Warren called the foundation’s commitment to dental health and community involvement commendable, and he was honored to be invited to the presentation at the Health Department’s Smile Center.

The Delta Dental Foundation focuses on ensuring that children and adults in North Carolina receive high-quality oral health education and dental care.

The grant received by the Smile Center is one of 21 grants totaling $45,000 that DDF is donating to North Carolina oral health organizations and programs.

This is the third year the Smile Center has been awarded a Smiles for Kids grant. Grant recipients were selected based on criteria that included the number of at-risk children served, the uniqueness of the program, the level of community involvement in the program and the ability to measure results.

The Rowan County Health Department’s Smile Center is open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Smile Center accepts Medicaid, Health Choice and private insurance, and provides care on a sliding fee scale based on family size and income for those not eligible for Medicaid or Health Choice.

You can make an appointment by calling the Smile Center at 704- 216-8796. The Smile Center is located at 1811 East Innes St., in  Salisbury.

The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina.

Delta Dental of North Carolina is a nonprofit dental service corporation created in 1970 to provide dental benefits throughout the state. Its mission is to improve the oral health of the communities it serves by providing affordable access to care with the largest network of providers, including two out of every three dentists, in North Carolina.