• Overview
• Testimonials
• Application
• Contact

Overview

The WDA Foundation's Donated Dental Services program is directed at 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 older). 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 him/herself whether to formally accept a person based on meeting the person and assessing his or her 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, more than $6.8 million in care has been donated by 749 dentists to 2,399 patients; 150 dental labs have donated supplies and services worth $494,000.

The state, Delta Dental of Wisconsin and WDA Insurance & Services Corp. provide monetary 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 three entities.

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Testimonials

From volunteer dentists

"I have been involved in the Donated Dental Services program since 1999. During that time, I have met and have been able to help a lot of very nice people with their dental needs. For whatever reason, they have not been able to access quality dental care. The DDS program provides a way to connect willing dentists with patients in need. I'm sure I am speaking for every dentist in the program when I say that it is our pleasure to help because we know the patients are so grateful."

-Dentist in Oshkosh

"This was one appreciative, nice, well-deserving patient accepted for this. Nice end-result."

-Dentist in Park Falls

"I have found this program to be well organized. The communication is good. The patients understand the need to make their appointments. [My patient] was very appreciative and he sent me a thank you note, too."

-Dentist in Fort Atkinson

"What we like about the program is when we get a patient who is so thankful for our services and whose life we hopefully changed. What a smile!"

-Dentist from Pewaukee

"The job you are doing is great!! A benefit to our community."

-Dentist from New Berlin

From patients to their volunteer dentist or DDS program coordinators

"This experience was so impressive and uplifting. The kindness of strangers was overwhelming and created a strong bond and faith in people helping people."

-Patient from Pierce County

"I found my experience at your office and the overall way you treated me to be quite inspirational...there is no way to describe the difference in the way I feel about myself and my self-esteem. Receiving my dentures has opened new doors that I didn't think possible and has reinstalled my faith once again of the general goodness of people in helping those less fortunate...I didn't think I would ever see the day I would be smiling again."

-Patient from Beaver Dam

"They treated me with the utmost respect and most importantly as they would treat any one of their regular patients...I needed a tooth pulled and was a little uncomfortable with having a missing tooth. Without me asking, he had a partial made for me. [The doctor] is an extremely kind person who treats people with respect regardless of how or why they are there. I actually look forward to going to the dentist for the first time in my life."

-Patient from Fond du Lac

"I am blind. People tell me I look 10 years younger with my new teeth. I only had a few teeth previous to my new dentures. Thank you for the new smile. This makes me feel good."

-Patient from Fond du Lac

"Thanks so much for all your help, Bonnie (DDS program coordinator). You are an angel sent from heaven. If I get new teeth, I'll eat something delicious in your honor :)"

-Patient from Westfield

"I don't know how to properly thank you for the professionalism and courtesy you extended to me as a referral from WDA Donated Dental Services. When I had my first visit I was embarrassed as to the way my teeth looked, but you and your staff made me feel welcome. I thank you for your caring and concern and to your staff. You all gave me the best Christmas present I could ever ask for: a smile and a new look on life."

-Patient from Oconomowoc

"I want you to know my denture is working beautifully. It seems to fit so nicely and I have no trouble chewing. I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for your kindness in making this for me and how very much I appreciate all the time and effort you put into it. Thank you very much and God bless you!"

-Patient from Waukesha

"I am 100 percent satisfied with the treatment I received. My first visit was like I knew the doctor as my regular dentist even thought it was my first visit. Such an environment of caring and support made you feel relaxed and that the treatment needed was going to be accomplished...Hats off to the entire staff for excellent service...I was so touched how the treatment was explained in details (explain the unknown), this helped me feel more relaxed with the treatment. Now I can smile with confidence because of the treatment done by caring, concern, friendly, supportive staff."

-Patient from Milwaukee

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Application

Prospective Donated Dental Services applicants can learn more about the program by contacting your county Department of Aging, Health & Human Services.

• Click here to download a DDS application form

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Contact

Carol Shoemaker at 414-755-4188 or 888-338-6852 or cshoemaker@wda.org 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-

Bonnie Townsend at 866-812-9840 or btownsend@wda.org if you live in any other Wisconsin county.  

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