Pennsylvania Donated Dental Services (DDS)

May 2014

Dental Lifeline Network Pennsylvania (DLN) through its Donated Dental Services (DDS) programhas helped thousandsof vulnerable people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile and have no other way to get help.Since 1996, over 3,860 individuals have received more than $11.3 million dollars in comprehensive care from a volunteer network that has grown to720 dentists and 153 dental laboratories.The Pennsylvania DDS program is one of 41 DDS programs nationwide that this fiscal year will help 8,500 individuals access $24.7 million in free dental care. Collectively since 1985, 120,000 peopleacross the country have accessed $250 million in free dental services through the DDS program.

Program Description

The PennsylvaniaDDS program was established to help some of the state’s most vulnerable peoplewith disabilities or who are elderlyor medically fragile and cannot afford dental treatment. As a result of their ages or disabilities, many cannot work and depend on public aid for health care. Medicare, however, does not cover dental treatment and the state’s Medicaid program provides limited dental benefits to adults. The DDS program serves as a resource of last resort for these individuals.

In 1996,Dental Lifeline Network and the Pennsylvania Dental Associationlaunched a pilot DDS program in the western half of Pennsylvania through a grant from the Richard K. Mellon Foundation. In 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Health began providing funds to continue the initiative and expanded to all counties in January 2002. However, the funding was cut in 2009. Thanks to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Corbett,state funding was just restored in the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget. The DDS Program will receive its first installment of state funding from the Department of Health in February 2014.

Through DDS, dentists and dental laboratories across the state each volunteer to provide comprehensive treatment to one or two patients each year. Volunteer dentists treat DDS patients in their own dental offices, which allows them to use their own equipment and staff. Dental labs also have been very generous. The demand for lab services is often greater than what labs can donate,and at times DLN must pay for lab fabrications. Several manufacturers donate materials for dentures, crowns, bridges and implants.

Two DDS Program Coordinatorsmanage services and are critical to the program’s success. Theyconduct telephone interviews to screen the applicants and determine eligibility.In addition, they link eligible patients with nearby volunteer dentists, monitor patient progress, arrange lab services, acquire the help of specialists as necessary and follow up with the patient and volunteers.One Coordinator is located near Pittsburg and the other Coordinatorwho was just hired in February, thanks to the recent State Appropriation,is located just outside of Harrisburg. With sustained financial support from the State, the DDS program can continue to operate without interruptionutilizing the hundreds ofgenerous Pennsylvania dentists and dental laboratories who are willing to donate thousands of dollars’ worth of dental care.

Program Impact

The DDS program restores the oral health and often transforms the lives of the patients we serve like53-year-old Mr. S. who lives alone in Chalkhill. Mr. S suffers from several physical challenges as a result of a serious car accident in 1980, in which he sustained a brain injury, and a subsequent head injury in a second car accident in 2007. Mr. S. is also limited by degenerative disc disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, Mr. S. had severe oral health issues and had broken and missing teeth. He worked in the in-home medical care field until his health prevented him from working any longer. Now, he survives on a Social Security Disability benefit and could not afford dental care. Thanks to a generous team of DDS volunteers, Mr. S. received $7,286 in free care that restored his oral health and his smile! He wrote to express his gratitude for this life-changing gift. “I would like to thank all those associated from coordinators to dentists and lab. I can’t say enough about this program. It goes a long way, not just physically but mentally. I can actually smile with confidence now. I can never thank everyone enough. This is an invaluable service. Thank you!”

Request

Supportthe continued appropriation of $150,000tothe State Department of Health for the DDS program, which will allow PA dentists to provideover $1.5M in donated dental services to 500 vulnerable people throughoutPennsylvania.