Speaker-Elect Karen Bass and Assemblymember Mary Hayashi to Promote Quality Dental Care for Children

Clinic tour will examine and discuss affordable access to dental services

HAYWARD, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Assembly Speaker-Elect Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) will tour the dental clinic at Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. on Thursday, May 8th to explore ways to expand dental health services for children and to raise awareness of the challenges relating to quality dental healthcare access.

"Oral health is a core part of our overall health," Assemblymember Hayashi said. "With California's budget crisis threatening children's access to critical dental health services, it is imperative that we come together to bring attention to and confront these challenges that we face as a community and as a state."

WHAT: Clinic Tour to Promote Children's Dental Health in California

WHO: Assembly Speaker-Elect Karen Bass
Assemblymember Mary Hayashi
Jose Joel Garcia, J.D., Chief Executive Officer,
Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center
Dr. Ariane Terlet, D.D.S., California Dental Association
Government Affairs Council Member and delegate to the
American Dental Association

WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 2008 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc.'s Dental Clinic
22331 Mission Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94541

Tooth decay is the number one chronic health disease among children and the leading cause of school absence in California. With dental problems, children's abilities to eat nutritiously, get adequate sleep, and remain attentive in class are greatly compromised.

Fortunately, dental problems are almost always preventable through regular checkups. School-based and dental clinic treatment programs help every student, including low-income children, receive a checkup by the first grade. Organizations such as the California Dental Association avidly promote the practice of consistent examinations and good dental hygiene to ensure the oral health of all of California's children.

Assemblymember Hayashi serves the 18th Assembly District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and a portion of Oakland, as well as the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Sunol and San Lorenzo.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: California Dental Association

CONTACT: Mandy Lee, +1-510-583-8818, for California Dental Association

2008-05-07 18:06:55 0355873 PRNEWSWIRE