Action for Dental Health Success Stories

Success stories

Dentists throughout the country are taking action to improve the nation's dental health by delivering care now to those already suffering with disease, strengthening the dental safety net, and bringing dental health education and disease prevention into communities. Here are some of their stories.

Provide care now to people who are suffering from untreated disease

• Dentists, Physicians Work Together to Provide Care for Mississippi Poor
• Central Illinois ER Referral Program Expands
• Mississippi Dental Clinic an “Oasis” in Once-Blighted Community
• Idaho Pilot Program Puts Dentists in Nursing Homes
• Community Health Center Dentists in Illinois Capital Treat ER Patients
• Virginia Dentists Bring Yearlong Pilot Program to Provide Dental Care to Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities
• Wisconsin Dentists Treat More than 1,300 People during Mission of Mercy Event
• Military Dental Club in Southern Illinois Provides Care for Homeless Veterans
• North Carolina Dental Program Targets Special Needs Patients
• Virginia Dental Association Receives Governor’s Award for Mission of Mercy Volunteer Efforts
• California’s CDA Cares Charitable Dental Event Provides Care for More than 2,000 People
• San Diego Dental Clinic for Homeless Veterans Set to Open this Summer
• Dentists in Northern Virginia Provide Care to 900 People during Mission of Mercy
• Louisiana Dentists Treat almost 1,500 Patients at Mission of Mercy Event
• Virginia Community Dental Clinic to Shutter without Financial Shot in the Arm
• Health Department in West Virginia Connects Low-Income Adults with Community Dentists 
• Kansas Dentists Treat 1,400 People during 14th Mission of Mercy
• Oklahoma Mission of Mercy Celebrates Record Breaking $1.5 Million in Donated Dental Care
• Montana Dentist Relieves Burden of Patients Seeking Dental Care at Local Health Center
• Maryland Program Trains Dentists to Provide Care to Nursing Home Residents
• Oklahoma Dentists Provide Record Number of Services at Mission of Mercy Despite Weather Setbacks
• Dentistry From The Heart: From Day-of-Care Event to International Dental Nonprofit
• Missions of Mercy 2014: Providing Care Now to Those Suffering from Untreated Disease
• Michigan Dentist Provides Care for Underserved in His Community
• Dentists to Provide Care for Veterans at Day of Care Events
• Back-to-School Dental Program Benefits Maine Students
• New Mexico Dentists Provide Care to More than 1,000 People at Mission of Mercy
• Statewide Effort Underway to Improve Oral Health of Maine Seniors
• Colorado Dentists Transform High School into Temporary Clinic
• Dentists in Tucson Prepare to Treat the Underserved
• Iowa Dentists Provide Care to More than 1,000 People at Seventh Annual Mission of Mercy
• Michigan Clinic Serves as Dental Home for Patients Seeking Treatment at Emergency Room
• Mobile Dental Team Provides Care to Elderly in Nebraska, Iowa
• Pennsylvania Dentists Provide Care to More than 2,000 People at Mission of Mercy
• NYU Dental Students Provide Care for Underserved People in New York City
• Dentist Moves to Rural Virginia after Seeing Unmet Need in Small Community
• Kansas City Dental School Relieves Dental Burden for Local Emergency Room
• Vermont Nursing Home Launches Long-Term Care Dental Pilot Project
• Texas Dentist Spearheads Day-of-Care Event for Underserved in Home Community
• Wisconsin Dentists Provide Charitable Care to Needy Adults
• Montana Dentist Provides Care to Elderly People in Nursing Homes
• Maryland Dentists Provide Care for the Underserved during Mission of Mercy
• Working Poor in Central Illinois Community Receive Relief from Dental Pain
• Minnesota Dentists Provide Care to the Underserved at Mission of Mercy
• Seattle Medical Center Finds Solution to People Seeking Dental Care in the ER
• Alaska Dentists Prepare for First Missions of Mercy Event
• Providing Dental Care for Patients with Dementia
• Texas Dentist Demonstrates Successful Model for Treating the Elderly in Nursing Homes
• Maryland Dentists Hope to Spread Long-Term Care Through Pilot Project
• Virginia Dentists Plan Event for Nursing Home Residents
• Maryland Coalition Aims to Reduce ER Visits for Dental Pain
• Maine Hospital's Dental Clinic Alleviates ER Burdens
• Florida Dental Group Provides Care to the Homeless
• Texas Dentists Help Relieve Local ER Burden
• Louisiana Dentist Travels to Treat the Elderly in Nursing Homes
• California, Connecticut Dentists Provide Free Care to People in Need
• Elderly Woman in Texas Nursing Home Gets Her Smile Back
• Missouri Dentists Provide Care to the Underserved at Mission of Mercy Event
• Arkansas Dentists Provide Care to Nearly 2,000 People at Mission of Mercy Event
• Rhode Island Dentists Hope Two-Day Free Clinic Will Alleviate ER Burden
• Dental Group Uses Mobile Clinic to Reach People in Rural Oregon
• Dentists Help Low-Income Adults in Tennessee Return to the Workforce
• Michigan Dentists Treat Needy during Second Mission of Mercy
• Maryland Dentist Travels to Treat Elderly Patients
• Attendance Up at Illinois Mission of Mercy Due to Slashed Medicaid Benefits
• Day of Care Serves as Kick-Off to Greater Push for Dentistry in Virginia Long-Term Care Facilities
• Wisconsin Dentists Provide Care to Underserved during Mission of Mercy
• Florida Dental School Gets People out of the ER and into the Dental Chair
• Dentists Treat the Underserved at Oregon Mission of Mercy
• Traveling Massachusetts Dentist Treats Children Suffering from Severe Cavities
• Milwaukee Community Partnership Improves Access to Dental Care

Strengthen and expand the public/private safety net

• Mississippi Dentist Provides Care for Area Head Start Students
• Dentist Participation in Colorado Medicaid Increases after State Improves Program
• Federal Grant Helps Dental School Grads Provide Care for Underserved in Alabama
• Access-to-Care Bill Passes in Ohio: Major Win for Dentists, Underserved Populations
• Connecticut Leading the Charge to Improve Medicaid Dental Programs
• Arizona Association Urges Legislature to Restore Dental Services for At-Risk Populations
• Private Practice Dentists Improve Oral Health Capacities of Community Health Centers in Montana
• Ohio Dentists Press Legislature for Medicaid Reforms but Offer Skin in the Game
• Colorado Dentists Pledge to "Take 5" Medicaid Patients
• Maine Dentists Provide Coordinated Oral Health Care for Head Start Students
• Adult Dental Medicaid Benefits Reinstated in Missouri 
• Missouri Governor Holds Funding for Restored Adult Dental Medicaid Benefits
• Wisconsin FQHC Partners with Area Dentists to Bring Care to the Underserved

Disease prevention and dental health education

• Prairie State College Offers Community Dental Health Coordinator Program
• CDHC Helps New Pennsylvania Medicaid Patients Navigate Public Health Care System
• CDHCs Improve Access to Dental Care on Navajo Nation
• New Mexico CDHC Graduates Reflect on Experiences
• CDHC Helps Virginia Community Overcome Barriers to Dental Care
• Profile of a CDHC: Renee Edwards
• Florida Dental Coalition Treats Needy Through Public, Private Partnerships
• Profile of a CDHC: Jessika Rios
• Dentists, Pediatricians in Wisconsin Launch Collaboration to Improve Children’s Oral Health
• Dental Program in Washington State Serves At-Risk Children
• Partnership among Jesuits, Dentists, Sioux Tribe Improves Care for Underserved in South Dakota
• South Dakota Dental Partnership Improves Oral Health on American Indian Reservations
• New Mexico College Launches CDHC Training Program
• Profile of a CDHC: Lori Wood
• Profile of a CDHC: Jenna Linden
• Missouri Dental Association Educates Mothers about Good Oral Health