Donated Dental Services:

Donated Dental Services (DDS) serves individuals who are disabled, elderly or medically compromised, who cannot afford needed dental treatment and have no other way of getting help, slipping through the cracks of Medicare and Medicaid programs. 

Qualifications: 

Qualified applicants must be permanently disabled, chronically ill, or elderly and in need extensive treatment, not just a cleaning and check-up.  Each person's condition must be severe enough to prohibit or significantly limit gainful employment. 

Details: 

Due to the overwhelming number of people in need, each patient only receives services through the program once.  When the dentist completes the treatment plan s/he determined, the case is closed and DDS will not provide further care.  Patients are restored to health, but are then responsible for maintaining it. To inform eligible patients of this service, the Foundation distributes information to government, health, and human services agencies. 

Intake Process: 

A Referral Coordinator screens each applicant and may consult physicians, caseworkers, and family members for medical and financial information.  Once determined eligible for the DDS program, the Coordinator tries to match the patient with a nearby dentist. The dentist first examines a prospective patient before deciding to treat this person through the program.  Occasionally, a dentist does not feel comfortable with an applicant or cannot meet certain dental needs.  The Coordinator may then refer that individual to another dentist. Since patients are treated in private dental offices, they must arrive on time for all appointments. Coordinators may disqualify patients who skip appointments without calling.