Dallas

When Park Cities Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates heard about Project Save A Mouth (PSAM), they knew they needed to spearhead the creation of a chapter for their local community. Drs. J. Michael Ray and William Phillips are proud to lead the Dallas chapter of PSAM, a program designed to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of poor oral health, and how to improve dental health and overall wellness locally.

Oral health is a serious issue in the state of Texas, with nearly 60% children reported to have a history of tooth decay, with over 25% untreated. Tooth decay has a direct relation to school attendance, and without proper dental hygiene awareness in today’s youth, their education will suffer. With close to seven million Texans, including adults, suffering from tooth decay, there is no doubt that the state of oral health in Texas is poor.

Furthermore, 94.2% of children aged 1–17 years are reported to have had a toothache in the past six months, and 26% haven’t had a preventive dental visit in the last year. Because poor oral health can cause several, sometimes severe, complications throughout the body, it is especially important to start taking care of your oral health from an early age. PSAM aspires to educate the local community on positive oral hygiene habits and emphasize the importance of regular dental visits.

In Dallas, PSAM has the support of City Council member Jennifer Gates, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Lake Highlands YMCA, among dozens of local medical professionals, all of whom have pledged to further the program. Drs. Phillips and Ray’s chapter has already spread the word about oral health importance to thousands of local residents and continues to be a community leader for this cause.