The Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation’s Special Needs Dentistry program has received a significant boost in funding thanks to the support of the Smile Generation network of trusted dental practices. With over $650,000 raised, the program aims to improve access to dental care for patients with special needs and provide training for specialized clinicians.
The fundraising campaign was comprised of two main components. The “Smile for Special Needs” initiative offered dental service discounts to patients at Smile Generation-trusted practices in exchange for donations. This initiative received contributions from over 8,600 individuals, resulting in a total of more than $396,000 raised. In addition, the “Stroll for Special Needs 5K” event brought together over 1,400 participants from 37 states, covering a combined distance of 4,547 miles and raising over $254,000.
The success of this fundraising effort would not have been possible without the support of dedicated sponsors such as Guidehouse, Lockton, Anthem, Intellys, OSTechnical, and SprintRay. Notably, Concorde Career Colleges played a vital role in supporting the campaign, emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.
Michael Le, the executive director of the PDS Foundation, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support received. He highlighted the challenges faced by patients with disabilities in accessing proper oral healthcare and emphasized the impact these campaigns have in connecting them with quality care.
Specialized dental care for individuals with special needs is of utmost importance. Daily tasks like brushing teeth and visiting the dentist can be incredibly challenging for this population. Since 2019, the PDS Foundation has been addressing this issue through their Dentists for Special Needs office in Phoenix, Arizona. Equipped with specially trained clinicians and a team that utilizes behavioral care techniques, the practice provides a family-friendly, sensory-integrated dental experience to ensure a calm and relaxing environment for patients. Furthermore, the office is wheelchair accessible, and emergency tele-dentistry consultations can be conducted from the comfort of one’s home using a smartphone or tablet.
Families of special needs patients have expressed their gratitude for the specialized care provided by the PDS Foundation. Many of these patients face difficulties in accessing even the most basic dental care, making the foundation’s work invaluable in improving their oral health.
To learn more about the PDS Foundation or make a donation to support their efforts in special needs dentistry, interested individuals can visit the organization’s website for further information.