The mission of the WDA Foundation’s Donated Dental Services (DDS) program is to help bring needed dental care to Wisconsin residents who are unable to afford treatment because of a limited income that is clearly linked to a permanent disability or advanced age (65 and older).
This program is by application only. Eligibility is determined based on a completed written application and phone interview by the DDS referral coordinator.
During the interview process, the applicant will be asked questions pertaining to income, expenses and other pertinent factors to determine financial need as well as services required.
Receipt of a written application by the DDS program does NOT guarantee treatment. The DDS program receives a substantial number of applications each year and as a charitable program, the availability of volunteer dentists and funding are limited.
When a patient is accepted into the program, he/she is put on a waiting list until a volunteer participating dentist becomes available. The number of individuals on the waiting list varies by county.
Wisconsin dentists who participate in the program have agreed to volunteer their services to one or two patients a year. Each volunteer dentist decides for him/herself whether to formally accept an individual based on a face-to-face meeting to assess dental needs. The referral coordinator is available to help the volunteers with such matters as a referral to a specialist and securing donated laboratory services if needed.*
Since 1998, some 864 volunteer dentists have provided more than $11.7 million in comprehensive dental care at no charge to 3,883 adults in need. An additional $813,353 in supplies and services has been donated by 159 dental labs.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation provide financial support for administrative and lab costs, while participating dentists donate more than $8 in clinical expertise, treatment and materials for every one dollar in funding from the these entities. Private donations to the WDA Foundation, directed to support Donated Dental Services, also are gratefully accepted.
*The DDS program does not provide lifetime dental care. The dentists do not donate routine cleanings or examinations after the initial treatment plan is complete.
Decisions of the DDS program are final.
- Click here to download and print a DDS application form (submit via email to [email protected] or by mail)
Contact Carol Shoemaker at 414-755-4188 or 888-338-6852 or [email protected] if you live in Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, LaFayette, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sheboygan, Walworth Washington, Waukesha or Winnebago counties or Carrie Golabowski at 866-812-9840 or [email protected] if you live in any other Wisconsin county.
Contact
Carol Shoemaker at 414-755-4188 or 888-338-6852 or [email protected] if you live in Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, LaFayette, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sheboygan, Walworth Washington, Waukesha or Winnebago counties.
-OR-
Carrie Golabowski at 866-812-9840 or [email protected] if you live in any other Wisconsin county.
