Westchester Gentle Dentistry will provide up to 100 custom-fitted athletic mouthguards to Iona University student-athletes and introduce a new dental benefit for eligible students, faculty, staff, alumni and families.

PORT CHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Westchester Gentle Dentistry (WGD) has been named the Official Dental Partner of Iona University Athletics for the 2026–2027 academic year.

At the center of the partnership is Protecting Gael Smiles, a new athletic mouthguard initiative through which Westchester Gentle Dentistry will provide up to 100 custom-fitted mouthguards for Iona University varsity student-athletes.

Digital scans, measurements and fittings will be performed by the Westchester Gentle Dentistry team under the clinical oversight of Dr. Feryal Alidadi, WGD practice owner and lead dentist.

Unlike stock or boil-and-bite mouthguards, a custom athletic mouthguard is fabricated from a digital scan of an individual athlete's teeth, creating a more precise and secure fit. Properly fitted mouthguards help protect the teeth and surrounding soft tissues from injuries and trauma that can occur during athletic competition, including tooth chips, fractures and loss.

"We're incredibly proud to partner with a university with such a rich history in Westchester and a strong tradition of athletic success," said Omeed Alidadi, General Manager of Westchester Gentle Dentistry. "As Westchester County's only NCAA Division I athletics program, Iona's student-athletes compete at an exceptional level, and we believe they deserve an equally high standard of attention to dental protection and prevention."

"What makes this partnership with Iona especially meaningful is how closely our values align," Alidadi continued. "Service and community engagement are deeply embedded in Iona's mission, and giving back to the community that has long supported us – for three decades as of next year – has always been core to who we are at Westchester Gentle Dentistry."

"We're excited to partner with Westchester Gentle Dentistry and provide our student-athletes with custom-fitted mouthguards," said Chris Aliano, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development at Iona University. "The health and safety of our student-athletes is a priority, and this partnership provides another way to support them on and off the playing field. We also appreciate WGD extending its commitment to Gael Nation through the dental benefit for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and families."

A New Benefit for the Iona Community

The partnership also introduces the Gael Nation Dental Benefit, offering eligible members of the Iona University community 10% off qualifying treatment at Westchester Gentle Dentistry, including qualifying restorative, periodontal, cosmetic and dental implant care. For patients with dental insurance, the benefit applies only to qualifying services not covered by their dental plan, when permitted under the applicable plan and provider agreement.

The Gael Nation Dental Benefit is designed to extend the relationship beyond athletics and create an ongoing connection between Westchester Gentle Dentistry and the broader Iona community. The benefit is available to eligible Iona University students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as immediate family members of current Iona students.¹

The partnership reflects a broader alignment between the two organizations around service and local community involvement. Westchester Gentle Dentistry's community initiatives have included its WGD Free Dental Day, which provided donated dental care to local residents in partnership with the Carver Center, as well as the creation of the "Greetings from Port Chester" community mural outside its Westchester Avenue practice in collaboration with local businesses and Village leadership.

The Iona University Athletics partnership follows a period of continued investment and expansion for the family-owned practice, including the development of the WGD Implant Center, WGD Smile Design Center and WGD Teeth Whitening Studio.

About Westchester Gentle Dentistry

Westchester Gentle Dentistry is a family-owned dental practice located in Port Chester, New York, serving patients throughout Westchester County and the surrounding tri-state area since 1997. Known for its comfort-first approach – where patient comfort meets exceptional care – the practice offers comprehensive services including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, dental implants, and Invisalign treatment. With advanced technology, a compassionate team, and a reputation built on serving multiple generations of families, Westchester Gentle Dentistry is committed to helping every patient achieve a healthy, confident smile.

Smile Transformations Happen Here.

About Iona University

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. For 2026, Iona has been named one of the nation's best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of the top schools for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona's LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its "Best Business Schools," recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.

¹ Proof of Iona affiliation or eligibility may be required. For patients with dental insurance, the benefit does not reduce deductibles, copayments, coinsurance or other amounts WGD is required to collect. Patients without dental insurance receive 10% off WGD's regular fee for qualifying treatment. Program terms and exclusions apply, and the benefit cannot be combined with other promotional or specially discounted pricing.

Media Contact

Omeed Alidadi, Westchester Gentle Dentistry, 1 9142890672, omeed@westchestergentledentistry.com, https://www.westchestergentledentistry.com/

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SOURCE Westchester Gentle Dentistry