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Community and Internet Resources


Health and Care: Financial Assistance

Donated Dental Services


National

National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, in partnership with state dental associations, offers Donated Dental Services (DDS) Programs in 34 states. Via DDS people with disabilities on a fixed income are given access to free comprehensive dental treatment. To locate the program in your state, visit the Foundation's DDS information page at www.nfdh.org/DDS.html

State Listings

California

University of the Pacific School of Dentistry offers a Special Needs Program that provides dental care for patients with a wide variety of special needs including individuals with significant medical problems, developmental disabilities, psychiatric disorders, people who are highly anxious about dental care, and elderly individuals. Dental services can be provided in an individual's home or at one of more than 220 dental offices located throughout California. Flexible payment options are available. For more information, call (415) 929-6675.

Georgia

Georgia Partnership for Caring offers a program which matches needy patients and volunteer dentists. For information, call (800) 982-4723.

Illinois

Illinois Donated Dental Services Program (DDS) serves disabled and aged people who cannot afford needed dental treatment and have no other way of getting help. Qualified applicants must be permanently disabled, chronically ill, or elderly. Each person’s condition must be severe enough to prohibit or significantly limit gainful employment. In addition, they can neither afford dental care nor receive it through other programs. They must need extensive treatment, not just a cleaning and check-up. For more information, contact the Program Coordinator at (800) 893-1685 .

North Carolina

New Sign North Carolina Dental Care Safety Net is a statewide network of public and private non-profit facilities that provide ongoing, comprehensive dental care to low-income patients. To locate the facility that serves your county, visit the NC Oral Health Section Safety Net Website or call (919) 733-3853.

Ohio

New Sign Ohio Department of Health offers Dental OPTIONS, a program that assists Ohioans with special health care needs and/or financial barriers to obtain dental care. Eligible patients are matched with volunteer OPTIONS dentists who have agreed to reduce fees. For more information, or to request an application to the program, call (888) 765-6789.

Pennsylvania

New Sign Pennsylvania Department of Health offers information on Safety Net Clinics, non-profit, community sponsored dental clinics that offer services to patients without access to dental care. Eligible patients are either low-income and cannot afford dental care, or are on public insurance and cannot find a private dentist willing to see them. The dental procedures are either done for free or a sliding scale fee. Each program has its own limitations and availability of appointments, so call first to find out the specifics of a clinic near you. To identify nearby clinics, visit http://ecapps.health.state.pa.us/safetynet/, and then click on the desired county(s) to see a list of the clinics in that county(s).

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped offers the Donated Dental Services Program to qualifying individuals with disabilities. There is generally no charge for services. For more information, call (401) 728-9448.

Joseph Samuels Dental Center located on the Rhode Island Hospital campus in Providence, Rhode Island concentrates on treating children and adults with special needs. For more information, call the hospital at (401) 444-4000.

Wisconsin

Donated Dental Services (DDS) Program, a joint effort of the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, offers free dental services to low-income individuals with disabilities. The program covers the costs of extensive dental services and not preventive services such as cleaning. For more information, call (888) 338-6852.

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[Updated January 31, 2005]
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