The DDS program is made possible through collaboration among
the National
Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, the Missouri Dental
Association, the Missouri Department of Social Services and the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services.
The Missouri DDS program has over 327 volunteer dentists, one-third of whom are specialists. Oral surgeons, periodontists, prosthodontists, endodontists,
and orthodontists have all contributed to the treatment of DDS patients. Also
contributing are 103 dental labs in Missouri and around the country that donate
dental prosthetics to their customers who donate services for DDS patients.
General dentists who examine patients, determine treatment plans, and provide
the bulk of the work, chair time, and staff commitment to DDS patients drive the
program. The DDS coordinator screens applications, makes referrals, and works to
arrange extra resources needed for treatment.
Qualified applicants must be permanently disabled,
critically ill, or elderly and have no financial resources with which to receive
dental care. Applicants must need extensive dental care, not just a cleaning and
checkup.
DDS can also accept children who are financially
disadvantaged, although Missouri Medicaid covers most of these cases.
Easy for
dentists...life-changing for patients.
Watch these short videos,
video 1
& video
2, to see how DDS is making a difference in people’s lives
Participation couldn't be easier
Dentists and labs take care of the
patients, DDS does everything else; no headaches, no red tape.
The DDS
Coordinator is the liaison between the patient, the labs and the dentists,
answering any and all questions, assisting the patient, the lab and the dentist
with anything and everything.
The goal of DDS is to return patients to good oral
health, enabling them to reach an affordable maintenance level.
Things to remember
The initial exam is your opportunity to decide if you would like to help
the patient or not.
Just because we refer them to you doesn't mean you have
to accept the patient for treatment at the initial exam. The choice is
yours; you don't even have to give a reason.
Many labs also volunteer for DDS. If a DDS patient needs lab services,
we may be able to arrange for free lab work.
We do not
expect you to continue donating services after treatment is complete.
Nonetheless, some dentists elect to continue caring for certain patients;
again, the choice is yours.
DentaCheques
Through the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, dentists
can realize significant savings on dental supplies while supporting expansion of
the Donated Dental Services program.
The 2009 edition of DentaCheques, which sells for $149, provides dozens of valuable
offers worth several thousand dollars from over 70 prominent manufacturers and
distributors of dental supplies. Revenue from DentaCheques funds expansion of
the DDS program.
Company Donations
Many dental companies generously support DDS and the
dentists' volunteer work.
Depending on the work you want to do for a DDS patient, several manufacturers
will donate the materials you need.
Argen, Jelenko, Ivoclar and Jensen reimburse their regular clients for
metals used in crown and bridge.
Dentsply and Ivoclar replace teeth used in dentures.
Nobel Biocare, Straumann, Zimmer and Biomet (formerly 3-I) donate
implant materials.
Contact
Information
