WDA Foundation’s Donated Dental Services provides another 192 elderly, disabled with $661,000 in needed care

WEST ALLIS, WIS., Sept. 10, 2015 – Some 543 volunteer dentists provided 192 disabled, senior, poor and uninsured adults across the Badger State with $661,644 in much-needed charitable dental care between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 through the Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation’s Donated Dental Servicesprogram. In addition, 101 dental laboratories contributed $51,198 in materials and services.

“Without your professional expertise, support and donated services, I would be just another veteran in pain…I would have probably ended up with no teeth or been ill from infection,” wrote one grateful patient from Milwaukee.

Many DDS patients generally need extensive dental work that can include bridges, crowns or dentures at a cost of about $3,400 per person.

DDS patients do not qualify for government assistance programs and cannot afford dental care, because a permanent disability, chronic illness or advanced age restricts their income-earning capability. Patients are selected on the basis of financial need and a phone interview with a referral coordinator. A patient candidate then visits a volunteer dentist who assesses dental need and decides whether to accept the financial and clinical responsibilities of providing comprehensive dental care for the individual.

The DDS Program is currently accepting applications for patient slots in all Wisconsin counties. A Donated Dental Services application is available on WDA.org for download.

Residents of Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Fayette, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties interested in applying for DDS assistance may also call 888-338-6852. Residents of all other Wisconsin counties should call 866-812-9840.

“I was happy to help…the patient’s smile on the way out was worth everything,” Dr. Edward Bekx, a DDS volunteer general dentist in Kimberly, Wis. said.

The state of Wisconsin, Delta Dental of Wisconsin Charitable Fund, Bader Philanthropies, Inc. and WDA Insurance and Services Corp. provide limited monetary support for administrative and lab costs. Participating dentists often donate more than $8 in clinical expertise, treatment and materials for every dollar in funding from the four entities and more than $13 in care for every $1 the state contributes to the program.

The DDS program was established in 1998. Since then, 826 volunteer dentists have provided more than $9.9 million in comprehensive dental care at no charge to 3,403 adults in need. An additional $702,909 in supplies and services has been donated by 159 dental labs.

Visit the WDA Foundation donor page to learn how you can help provide tax-deductible financial support for statewide charitable dental care and oral hygiene education outreach efforts like the Donated Dental Services program.