Marathon Petroleum Helps Roseman University College of Dental Medicine Make Dental Care Accessible to Underserved Youth in Salt Lake City

March 16, 2022

Roseman University of Health Science’s College of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, Utah is pleased to announce that it has received a generous donation of $50,000 from Marathon Petroleum Corporation through its Salt Lake City refinery to provide free dental care to the underserved youth of the West-Side Salt Lake City area.  

“This investment reflects our company’s priority of helping the communities where we operate to thrive by making measurable impacts in the lives of residents,” Salt Lake City Refinery General Manager Eric Sjunnesen said. “We believe partnering with the Roseman College of Dental Medicine will generate lasting benefits because this effort addresses some of the most basic health and wellness needs.” 

To distribute these funds, this spring Roseman Dental, the clinical practice of Roseman University College of Dental Medicine, is partnering with the American Dental Association to provide free dental screenings and cleanings to qualifying children ages 18 and under as part of the national Give Kids a Smile® program. Youth will also receive free screenings and cleanings at the College of Dental Medicine’s Back-to-School Brush Up™ held in the fall. All children and teens who attend these events also receive a voucher to return to Roseman Dental for a FREE comprehensive exam, x-rays, sealants, and up to $50 of added care and services. 

These programs were created to raise awareness about the importance of oral healthcare and help stop the spread of untreated dental decay.  

According to Roseman University College of Dental Medicine Dean Dr. Frank Licari, dental pain is the leading cause of school absence in the U.S. “It is estimated that as many as 17 million children suffer from untreated tooth decay, making it the single most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S.,” said Licari, “As a result, tooth pain and other oral health problems account for about 51 million hours of missed school each year.” 

According to the CDC, about 1 of 5 (20 percent) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth, 1 of 7 (13 percent) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth, and children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25 percent) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11 percent). 

Licari said, “These statistics can be lowered, especially with the support of Marathon Petroleum Corporation of the Marathon Petroleum Corporation Foundation. Children’s oral health is an important and often overlooked part of overall health and well-being. Here at Roseman, compassion and empathy have long been intertwined with delivering exceptional healthcare to the communities we serve.”