Basic dental care shouldn’t be a luxury.

Here’s the facts:

1. “Based on economic and social factors, some groups experience more disease and more barriers to care than the general population; the result is unacceptable, but reversible, inequities in oral health.” (Section 1, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

2. Lack of access to regular dental care can result in ineffective and expensive overuse of emergency departments. (Section 1, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

3. Untreated oral disease can postpone entry to military service or delay deployment of troops to active duty, thus jeopardizing the nation’s military readiness. (Section 1, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

4. About half of all American children do not receive regular dental care because of social, economic, and geographic obstacles. (Section 2A, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

5. “About half of all adolescents will experience dental caries; there has been little improvement in the past 20 years.” (Section 2B, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

6. “Poor oral health during pregnancy has been linked to some adverse health outcomes for both mother and baby.” (Section 3A, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

7. “[R]elationships between oral infection or oral inflammation continue to be identified with diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cognitive impairment…” (Section 3A, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

8. “As working-age adults transition into retirement, most lose their employer-provided dental insurance, and Medicare does not provide an oral health benefit. This puts their oral health at risk.” (Section 3B, Oral Health in America, National Institute of Health, US Surgeon General, 2023)

Here’s our solution:

1. With volunteer dental professionals, we provide dental services “at-cost.” (~$125/patient per visit).

2. Through patient donations, we generate some funds towards the cost-of-treatment (An average of $25/patient per visit).

3. Through community support, we can bridge the gap ($125 - $25 = $100!)

Together we can be A Beacon of Hope through access to basic dental care.

Will you consider giving a monthly gift of $100?