Low Cost, or Free Dental Care Options for Seniors & People with Disabilities

Access to regular dental care is often difficult for seniors. And people with disabilities. Medicare doesn’t cover it. Medicaid coverage is limited, and depends which state you live in. Out-of-pocket expenses can be prohibitive to those on a fixed income.

Fortunately, there are organizations that can help. Listed are low cost or possible free dental care possible options for seniors, and people with disabilities:

A site dedicated to health resources for older adults is toothwisdom.org. Click on your state here and you’ll find a list of excellent resources. The site is run by Oral Health America (OHA), “a national nonprofit based in Chicago that is dedicated to changing lives by connecting communities with resources to increase access to care, education, and advocacy for all Americans, especially those most vulnerable.”

With Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging, you can search by state or by service (health, transportation, legal, etc.). Speak with an information specialist: 1-800-677-1116.

2-1-1 Information and Referral Search is sponsored by the United Way and can connect you to services in your area. Simply dial 211.

 PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a Medicare and Medicaid program that “helps people meet their health care needs in the community…” This healthcare can include dentistry.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports federally-funded health centers for those with no insurance or limited income. Many offer sliding scale (based on what you can afford) payments. Visit the site or call 1–888–275–4772.

The Dental Lifeline Network (formerly the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped) provides “access to comprehensive dental services for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically at-risk.” Call 1-888-471-6334.

The non-profit Dentistry From The Heart (DFTH) provides “free dental care to those in need.” Volunteer dentists and hygienists donate their time for events around the country. Find events here.

Also check out Freemedicalcamps.com to locate free or inexpensive dental care.

Dental schools are an option for good low-cost care as many have clinics where students get experience working on patients. The Commission on Dental Accreditation website has a listing of schools by state. Also try dental hygiene schools for preventative care.

 The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics is a non-profit that seeks to “broaden access to affordable health care for the medically underserved.” You can search for free care from their homepage.

Dental Lifeline Network Reaches $300 Million In Donated Services to People in Need

photo: Chicago dentist Dr. David Gershenzon (left) provided dental treatment to Jesse, a patient in Dental Lifeline Network's Donated Dental Services (DDS) program.

DENVER, Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Now exceeding $300 million in dental services donated to vulnerable people in desperate need of care, Dental Lifeline Network provides full-service treatment without cost to patients through its extensive volunteer network of dentists and dental laboratories.

People with permanent disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile and cannot afford dental care may be eligible for DLN's Donated Dental Services (DDS) program which has served 107,000 people since it began 30 years ago in Colorado. Services are available in 50 states and Washington D.C. through DLN and its partner organizations. Its success is due to the generosity of 15,000 dentists and 3,700 labs that volunteer for DDS, according to Fred Leviton, DLN president.

"Many thousands of people in the U.S. suffer from painful dental conditions including fractured teeth, advanced periodontal disease and the inability to eat normally. After years of being unable to afford treatment, these patients' ages or disabilities make the burden of added dental disease devastating for them.  Their lives are transformed through the safety net provided by DDS volunteers," he noted.

Chicago resident Amanda, age 34, has a birth defect that prevented her joints from fully developing. She worked at a bank, but now relies on disability benefits. Amanda types with her mouth. She cracked a tooth and, unable to afford dental care, postponed treatment. Eventually, she connected with the DDS program.

"Every single day that I have a healthy smile and a healthy mouth, I can do the things I need to do and feel confident," Amanda said. "You guys (DDS) did that for me . . thank you!"

More volunteer dentists are always needed. Chicago dentist Dr. David Gershenzon joined his father's practice, and began volunteering for DDS as his father, Dr.Richard Gershenzon, has done for many years.

"It's really meaningful to me to see the look on a patient's face after they've completed treatment and you've really helped improve their lives," Dr. David Gershenzon commented. "It gives me more meaning as to why I'm a dentist." Dr. Gershenzon and DDS patient Amanda are featured in a new video produced as a public service by the American Dental Association. (View at www.DentalLifeline.org).

Increasingly, patients who are medically fragile are referred to DDS. Dental health often is a prerequisite for cancer patients who need chemotherapy, candidates for organ transplants or kidney dialysis, people who require life-saving medications, cardiac patients requiring surgery, and patients with crippling arthritis who need joint replacements.

DLN grew through collaboration with state dental associations. Funding comes from state governments, foundations, some state Delta Dental plans, the dental trade industry and corporate and individual donors.

A charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association, DLN was founded in 1974 by chairman and CEO Dr. Larry Coffee, a graduate of Northwestern University Dental School. To learn more, visit www.DentalLifeline.org or call 888-471-6334. 

SOURCE Dental Lifeline Network

# this is a re-post with updated links as of this date.