Private charities and nonprofit organizations that perform pro bono dental work represent a possible avenue for adults and children to get limited oral care.
Government-required charity care at large public hospitals supports medical services for uninsured patients who cannot afford the hefty bills. However, hospitals rarely perform dental work.
Small private dental practices provide most oral care in America. Therefore, patients in need often have to look under many different rocks before finding a dentist nearby willing to help.
Fortunately, there are many rocks worth exploring. Perhaps you can find a charity running an event soon in your local area.
Dental Charities for Adults
Several dental charities focus on helping adults with their oral care needs. Patients sometimes lose Medicaid and CHIP coverage after they turn 21 and may need help paying the dentist.
In about half of the states, Medicaid continues dental benefits into adulthood, but coverage for specific services varies considerably depending on where you live.
Dental Lifeline Network
Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides affordable oral care and education for people who cannot afford it. The charity offers treatment in one of three categories.
- Have a permanent disability
- Elderly: age 65 or older
- Medically fragile
The DLN website also publishes a state-based listing of member clinics and an online application form. Your first step should be to apply for benefits to determine eligibility and get your name on the waiting list.
The DLN flagship program, Donated Dental Services (DDS), is a national network of over 15,000 servant dentists and 3,400 volunteer laboratories that offer free or discounted treatment to qualified patients.
Smiles for Everyone
The Smile for Everyone Foundation provides free dental care to people in need in the United States and abroad. They have donated over $20 million in oral care services since 2011.
Smiles for Everyone offers three programs.
- Days of Giving: volunteers offer free basic services for pre-qualified patients
- Smile Makeovers: extensive treatment for select individuals
- Implanting Inspiration: hand-picked patients receive implants at no charge
However, the Smiles for Everyone website does not show any scheduled events for the next 18 months at the time of publication.
Give Back a Smile
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD) is a professional trade association that operates a charitable foundation (AACDCF) that helps restore teeth for adults who suffered dental injuries from domestic or sexual violence.
The Give Back a Smile website publishes details about its eligibility criteria and requirements ($20 application fee plus ten documented hours of community service). You will also find an online application to see if you qualify and match with a local volunteer provider.
The AACDCF flagship program, Give Back a Smile, heals the devastating effects of dental injuries caused by a former intimate partner, family member, and other abusers.
Dentistry from the Heart
Dentistry from the Heart is a nonprofit organization working to supply parts of the world with free oral care services. They partner with providers that offer special events at their offices for adults only.
The Dentistry From The Heart website used to include an FAQ section outlining their services. Now, you must follow them on Facebook or YouTube for more information.
- Complimentary services include your choice of one of three treatments
- One basic cleaning
- One tooth extraction
- One cavity filling
- They see people on a first-come, first-served basis
Charitable Smiles
Charitable Smiles is a Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that helps people who can’t afford oral care get the needed treatment. They assist in pairing adult patients with participating dentists who volunteer their chair time.
Dental healthcare providers nominate patients for assistance with these extra costs. Therefore, speak with your dentist and ask for a nomination.
Charitable Smiles helps dentists take on more pro-bono work for patients who are otherwise unable to afford treatment. Providers can volunteer chair time but face other expenses for materials (amalgam fillings, Novocain, etc.) and appliances (dentures, implants, etc.).
Mission of Mercy
Mission of Mercy (MOM) is a charitable organization helping people worldwide recover from disasters. MOM also provides free health and dental services to low-income households in the United States.
Mission of Mercy has many affiliate offices nationwide that operate scheduled dental care events through mobile units. They often partner with regional professional associations, insurance companies, and other non-profits such as ADCF.
Contact your regional Mission of Mercy center.
Cancer Survivors
Dental charities for cancer survivors might not be the most productive place to turn for help because nonprofit organizations often lack the resources to treat every patient with oral care needs.
Therefore, patients with tooth loss after cancer treatment must find deeper pockets. Your health insurance might pay for medically necessary dental work, especially for those dealing with malignancy in the head and neck areas.
- Extraction of teeth before radiation to treat cancer
- Mandibulectomy to remove cysts and cancerous tumors
- Mucositis and stomatitis from chemotherapy
Grant Making Dental Charities
Many dental charities grant money to other nonprofit organizations that deliver oral care services to underserved populations. In other words, they do not provide the funding directly to individuals.
Patients looking for financial assistance for dental work should begin their search on each organization’s website. Each provides a listing of other charities they support with monetary gifts.
Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation is a private grant-making organization that funds other charities that help patients with dental care needs. You cannot apply for a grant as an individual but can follow the money flow to recipient entities.
The Patterson Foundation recently awarded more than $1.3 million to 45 other nonprofit organizations in one year.
The Patterson Foundation website publishes a listing of grant recipients. Use this resource to follow the money and find local clinics offering free or low-cost dental care.
ADCF
America’s Dentists Care Foundation (ADCF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that delivers oral healthcare to the underserved. However, ADCF does not provide charity services to individuals.
Instead, ADCF supports other establishments seeking to establish and operate free clinics, such as Mission of Mercy (MOM) and other groups.
- Dental clinic equipment
- Pre-clinic guidance
- Obtaining volunteers
The ADCF website publishes a state-based listing of local organizations that they support. Begin with this resource to find a clinic near you.
AAPD Foundation
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strives to ensure that every child has a dental home – a place where they can receive consistent, compassionate oral care.
The AAPD Foundation funds community-based initiatives where pediatric dentists help underserved children. Grant money flows to local clinics that treat boys and girls in families that cannot afford care.
The AAPD Foundation website also publishes a listing of recent grant recipients. Begin with this resource to possibly find a clinic near you. Healthy Smiles Healthy Children is the former name for this organization.
DentaQuest
DentaQuest operates a private grant-making department responding to community needs by funding smaller dental charities serving the public.
DentaQuest’s corporate giving department supports over a hundred organizations operating in over twenty-one states.
The DentaQuest corporate website highlights their giving to specific charities, providing several leads toward their end-point recipients. Use this resource to surface possible grantees in your area.
Dental Charities for Children
Dental charities also target their giving to children. However, because Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan often pay for oral care for patients under 18, these programs often have a narrow focus.
Orthodontic Braces
Several charitable organizations sometimes help pay for orthodontic braces for children under the age of 18. Parents must first fund a modest application fee and invest between $200 and $650.
- Smiles Change Lives
- Smile for a Lifetime
- Donated Orthodontic Services
Applicants must meet similar eligibility criteria at each organization, including a family income below federal poverty guidelines, letters of recommendation, volunteer community service, and more.
Mars Wrigley Foundation
The Mars Wrigley Foundation creates better communities and happier, healthier smiles by giving people opportunities to flourish. The foundation has reached more than 6.5 million individuals globally.
The Mars Foundation website lists several initiatives focusing on mint and cocoa-growing regions. Meanwhile, the Healthier Smiles grant money flows exclusively to Save the Children. However, the trail goes cold at this point.
Americas ToothFairy
The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) (America’s ToothFairy) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. America’s ToothFairy increases access to charity dental care by supporting clinics and community partners helping underserved children.
America’s ToothFairy offers three programs aimed at children.
- Resources for local clinics
- Grants for extensive care
- Assistance for children with special needs
America’s ToothFairy website also publishes a state-based list of neighborhood clinics it supports. Use this resource to find an organization near you.
ADA
The American Dental Association is an industry trade group that sponsors Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS), a charitable program for children.
Approximately 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members annually volunteer at local GKAS events to provide free oral health education, screenings, and preventive and restorative treatment to over 300,000 children.
Please call 1.844.490 to find out if there’s a GKAS event happening near you.
