Delta Dental of Wisconsin provides grant to add dental care at St. Ann’s Center for Intergenerational Care – serving low-income adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities

Stevens Point, Wis., October 1, 2015 – St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care has been awarded a $150,000 grant from Delta Dental of Wisconsin to add dental care services at their new facility which is currently under construction (located at N. 25th Street & W. North Avenue, Milwaukee, WI). St. Ann’s has the ability to receive an additional $50,000 from Delta Dental of Wisconsin, contingent upon finding matching gifts from new donors to the project.

The new facility will include a three-chair dental clinic projected to open in early 2016. In addition to the existing community-based health and educational services St. Ann’s currently offers, they anticipate providing dental care to 400 individuals annually.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 2010 Burden of Oral Disease in the State of Wisconsin, individuals with disabilities have “significantly higher rates of poor oral hygiene and needs for periodontal disease treatment than the general public.” St. Ann’s provides services to 700 plus adults that live with developmental and/or physical disabilities. More than 80 percent have a need for professional dental care due to a number of barriers. Dentist who treat individuals with disabilities also face low Medicaid reimbursements despite the need for additional chair time to perform necessary care.

St. Ann’s hopes to minimize these challenges, and create a dental home for clients where staff can maintain a rapport and consistent care from early childhood through their elderly years.

“Our goal with this grant is to allow St. Ann’s to provide comprehensive care to one of our State’s most vulnerable populations and to help reduce oral health care disparities,” said Ann Boson, Director of Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s Charitable Fund. “We know there is a strong association between ones’ oral and overall health. Your mouth is the window into what’s going on with the rest of your body. Without appropriate dental resources, a critical piece of necessary care was missing for their clients.”

According to Sister Edna Lonergan, Founder and President of St. Ann Center, “When I found out that the adult child of one of our parents had to fly her daughter with special needs to another state for prophylactic care, I knew we had to do something. The gift from Delta Dental is making a dream come true.”

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About Delta Dental of Wisconsin

For more than 50 years, Delta Dental has been working to maintain healthy communities and healthy teeth. We provide dental benefits and services to more Wisconsin companies, subscribers, and their family members than any other insurance carrier. Our mission is to improve oral health and wellness by extending access to care, advancing science, and supporting an effective oral-health workforce. Through our Charitable Fund, we provide grants that support critical safety net dental clinics, oral health programs to prevent tooth decay, and scholarships to ensure Wisconsin meets the growing demand for a leading dental workforce.