SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has been selected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to receive a five-year grant to improve the state's oral health program and to reduce inequities in oral health care, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, today announced.

"Oral health is essential to general health and well-being, but the burden of oral diseases is spread unevenly through the population," Dr. Lumpkin said. "Many more poor people and some racial and ethnic minority groups have higher incidence of untreated oral disease than the population as a whole."

The $279,000 award for the first year, which is renewable for the same amount for up to five years, will allow the Department to develop a comprehensive oral health surveillance system that will monitor the state's oral health status and identify areas of need. In addition, the Department plans to hire a fluoridation program data manager and produce a statewide oral health education and awareness program.

Illinois joins Arkansas, Michigan, Nevada, New York and the Republic of Palau in sharing a total of $1.2 million from CDC. The grants range from $60,577 to $300,000 per year.

The CDC funding is designed to improve basic state oral health services, including support for oral health program leadership and additional staff, monitoring oral health behaviors and status, and evaluating prevention programs. Arkansas and Nevada are to receive additional money to develop and coordinate community water fluoridation or school-based dental sealant programs.

"Good oral health is an important part of overall health," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "These grants will help these states build more effective preventive measures to improve oral health and reduce oral disease among their citizens."