Candy Buy Back Event

Online, November 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Contact: Cindy Manning
Dental Associates of Connecticut
(203) 730-1267
cindy@dentalassociates.us

1,725 POUNDS OF CANDY COLLECTED IN ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CANDY
BUY-BACK PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THE TROOPS OVERSEAS

DANBURY, NEWTOWN, NEW MILFORD, TRUMBULL CT --- More than 1,725 pounds of Halloween candy was collected in the Greater Danbury and Trumbull areas by Dental Associates of Connecticut in its 8th Annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back on Nov. 2nd, 2010.

Hundreds of kids came to the dental practice's four offices in Danbury, Newtown, New Milford and Trumbull to sell their candy in the annual effort to raise awareness for good dental hygiene. They were paid $2 a pound from the tooth fairy, up to 10 pounds. In addition, the children were encouraged to write a letter to a serviceman overseas, as part of Operation Gratitude, a California-based organization that sends care packages to servicemen that include the Halloween buy-back candy.

"Our offices were overflowing with candy, which is not something you usually see in a dentist's office," said Dr John Iwasaki, Pediatric Dentist. "People don't realize the impact candy, especially gooey, chewy types have on teeth, especially if they're not brushed immediately," he said. "It's also nice to participate in a program that brightens the day of our men and women serving in the military."

Since starting this program in 2003, the Dental Associates Tooth Fairy has bought back more than 4 tons of candy. Parents brought their children to one of the offices, placed their bags of candy on the scale, and the tooth fairy paid them. "The children left the office without the unhealthy, cavity-causing candy, but instead with some crisp dollar bills and a positive experience from visiting the dentist's office," said Dr Hemant Dhawan, Pediatric Dentist.

In addition to donating the candy to Operation Gratitude, Dental Associates will give a portion of the candy to local charities like Salvation Army, Women's Center of Greater Danbury, and local food pantries. "After learning about our program we also had countless others who stopped in to donate their leftover candy without taking the money," said Cindy. Manning, Manager of Patient and Public Relations. Trumbull teacher Lisa Beers had her students donate their candy for a class project and dropped off more than 250 pounds to the Trumbull office. The class will receive a gift card to a local business supply store as a gift from Dental Associates.

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ABOUT DENTAL ASSOCIATES of Connecticut
For more than 39 years, Dental Associates has specialized in pediatric and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics and oral surgery, with offices in Danbury, New Milford, Newtown and Trumbull. The practice has convenient evening and weekend hours, and is available 24/7 for emergency visits. For more information, www.dentalassociates.us.
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