Donated Dental Services Program (“DDS Program”)

Despite efforts to prevent vulnerable people from “slipping through the cracks,” there still are those who do, through no fault of their own. Hundreds of disabled, elderly, or medically-compromised people throughout Minnesota suffer from seriously-neglected dental problems because they cannot afford essential dental care. Medicare does not provide dental benefits and though the state’s Medicaid program pays for dental services for adult recipients, access is limited. The financial barrier to care is the most pervasive reason that disabled or aged individuals cannot get needed dental care.

In 2003 through a small amount of funding from the State of Minnesota, the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (NFDH) with the Minnesota Dental Association started a Donated Dental Services Program patterned after similar projects developed by the NFDH in 35 other states. Since that time, the “DDS Program” has successfully recruited over 260 Minnesota dentists and over 75 dental laboratories to donate their time and expertise to help disabled, elderly and medically-compromised people who cannot afford much needed dental care. And we’re pleased to say that over $1.3 million worth of free dental care has been given to over 450 Minnesota patients!

If you’d like to be a “hero” to someone in need, volunteer to help by contacting:

Cindy Benson, Minnesota DDS Program Coordinator
cbenson@nfdh.org
651-454-6290

For more information, click on the web site below:
http://nfdh.org/joomla_nfdh/content/view/16/37/