Oral Health Program: Donated Dental Services Program

Donated Dental Services (DDS) is a Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) program. The program is directed to people who are unable to afford needed dental care because of a limited income which is clearly linked to a permanent disability, chronic illness, or advanced age (65 and over). All the information pertaining to the applicant's need is based on a completed application and a phone interview done by the referral coordinator.

Dentists have agreed to volunteer their services to one to two patients a year. Each volunteer dentist decides for themselves whether to formally accept a person based on meeting the person and assessing the person's 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 should a patient need services with lab-related needs.

Since 1998, hundreds of participating dentists and dental labs, working through the coordinated efforts of the DDS program, have provided more than $8 million in free treatment to thousands of patients.

The Department of Health Services provides some administrative and lab funding, but all volunteer dentists donate 100 percent of their materials, staff, and services. Delta Dental of Wisconsin and the WDA Insurance Programs have also contributed financial support.

The program is affiliated with the WDA Foundation.

For more information about DDS, please contact your county Department of Aging, Health and Human Services or the following:

Contact

WDA Foundation Donated Dental Services Lead Coordinator:

Mary Beth Berres
Lead Coordinator
888-338-6852 or 414-755-4188
mberres@wda.org