Do you sometimes provide dental care to disadvantaged patients who may not be able to pay for your services?
The ADA’s second access-to-care event, Give Kids A Smile Day, took place Feb. 6. More than 35,000 dental team members provided free dental screenings and treatment to an estimate 1 million needy children all over the country through this unique partnership of the dental profession and the dental industry.
The Association is aware that GKAS is a high-profile example of something that many dentists do without fanfare each year: provide care at no charge to those in need. The ADA’s 2000 Survey of Current Issues in Dentistry reported that an estimated 74.3 percent of dentists in private practice in the United States provided free or discounted care in 1999. The total estimated value of that care in 1999 was $1.25 billion, or $8,234 per dentist.
When asked if they sometimes provide dental care to disadvantaged patients who may not be able to pay for services, 95 percent of respondents to January JADA’s Question of the Month said yes.
About one-half of these respondents gave examples of how. Here are a few:
- – "In our community, we have an ongoing, year-round program for providing free dental care to disadvantaged children. All of the dentists in town take part on a rotating basis."
- – "We do lots of screenings for Kindergarten Round-Up and Head Start. We also provide free dental care through National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped."
- – "We participate in Donated Dental Services and school nurse referral of indigent children."
- – "I work with a local abused women’s referral service and do not charge these clients."
- – "I do it on a one-time basis for a person who comes in for emergency care or needs a crown or root planing and can’t afford it. I also do dentures every year or two for a person who can’t afford it."
- – "I provide regular care for deceased patients’ minor children when insurance is lost."
- – "I treat mental and medically compromised patients. Our fees vary depending on the situation and person."
- – "I have been a volunteer dentist one day a week for more than 25 years."
- – "On a daily basis. I practice in an area where the average family of four has an annual income of $26,000."
- – "My local society in Texas sponsors and maintains a modern mobile clinic called Dentists Who Care."
- – "We do about $15,000 to $20,000 worth of free care a year."
- – "I help disadvantaged retirees who need help with ‘sticker shock.’ So, I do fillings as a ‘2 for 1’ or even a ‘3 for 1.’ "
- – "We do, and we ask patients to pay $1 or $10, so we do not take away their dignity."
Other respondents voiced their support for providing care to disadvantaged people. "How can you turn away a patient with a swollen face even if they have no money?" asked one. "Make treatment a ‘gift’ and feel good about it."
"Volunteerism seems to be alive and well within our profession," said another.
