Highlights • United Concordia Dental

For central Pennsylvania adults and kids in need: Free dental care

At the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in May, more than 1,700 adults and children showed up to receive dental care through the Mom-n-PA Dental Missions, which provide annual two-day free dental clinics for the underserved.

Surveys taken during the event revealed that over 42 percent of the patients had not received dental care in two years or more. And 41 percent were currently suffering dental-related pain, often indicative of disease or infection.

United Concordia Dental served as the premier sponsor for the event, which delivered $875,000 in free care.

And both United Concordia and Highmark Inc. employees joined more than 900 volunteers, including dentists and hygienists, who provided dental services such as exams, cleanings, X-rays and fillings to under- and uninsured individuals.

"As a dentist, I know the health of the mouth is connected to the health of the body," said United Concordia's Chief Dental Officer, James Bramson, D.D.S., who spoke at the large-scale clinic. "I also know how vital the care being delivered here today is to these adults and children who may not have gotten this treatment otherwise."

Highmark Health President and Chief Executive Officer David Holmberg added, "Oral health is about more than just a smile," he said. "Research by United Concordia reveals an important connection between certain medical illnesses and gum disease, which shows that if we integrate dental and medical care we can keep people healthier."

F.G. "Chip" Merkel, president and chief executive for United Concordia, joined Bramson and Holmberg in hosting the clinic, which helped educate patients about the important connection between oral health and overall wellness.

In 2015, United Concordia provided dental care valued at over $7.6 million through dental outreach sponsorships like the Mom-n-PA event. United Concordia knows that getting health care right means offering philanthropic care to those in need and continuing to underscore the vital connection between oral health and overall health.