DTA Foundation and AAPD Foundation Announces New Partnered Grant: Access to Dental Care for Low Income Extended Families

The DTA Foundation, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists Foundation (AAPD Foundation) is excited to announce a new grant, Access to Dental Care for Low Income Extended Families. The DTA Foundation and AAPD Foundation have awarded a total of $150,000 to the Kids’ Community Clinic of Burbank (KCDC), piloting an initiative to provide oral health education, dental screenings, and referral options for patients from low-income families. KCDC has been the recipient of grant funding in the past from both the DTA Foundation and AAPD for their work with children and families in need of oral health care services.

The Kid’s Community Dental Clinic of Burbank is a nationally recognized dental home offering free or low-cost comprehensive and restorative oral care to vulnerable low-income families from communities of color to bring access to healthcare equity and alleviate poverty.

Originally established as a dental clinic within St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1968 by the Sisters of Providence to fill a gap in oral health care services for low-income children, the hospital decided to shut its doors in 1997, but the oral healthcare disparity continued to worsen and a public outcry to address the lack of access for this vulnerable population led former volunteer clinic hygienist Carole Nese RDH to reopen the doors on May 4, 2001 as it operates today as the Kids’ Community Dental Clinic (KCDC).

“Low-income, communities of color are impacted the most with poor oral health due to barriers such as family income, language, transportation, cultural barriers, lack of dental insurance coverage, and lack of adequate community providers and access to care. KCDC exists to meet this need. To overcome barriers and create access to care for all children and their families” –Dale Gorman, Executive Director, KCDC

KCDC has no geographic limits, so families can come from all over Southern California for access to care for free, low cost, or as Medicaid/Medi-Cal patients. Their ultimate goal is for every child to have a dental home where they are comfortable coming to regular cleanings and check ups. While KCDC serves diverse populations from communities of color, roughly 65%-70% of KCDC patients come from the underserved Latinx community that statistically has the greatest need for access and treatment for dental issues especially chronic decay.

Tooth decay has been identified by the WHO, CDC, American Dental Association and LACDPH as a global, national and local public health crisis and the most common chronic illness among school age children that also leads to an estimated 874,000 missed school days in California alone. For adults and children, oral pain has been linked to poor mental health, lower self-esteem, lower academic/work performance and socialization affecting their health and well-being. This new grant initiative aims to change that.

This DTA Foundation grant initiative is made possible by our partner, American Academy of Pediatric Dentists Foundation (AAPD Foundation). Their leadership and generosity will greatly benefit oral health and the dental industry for years to come.

The Access to Dental Care for Low Income Extended Families Grant is still in the early stages of development. Additional details will be announced at the DTA’s Annual Meeting this coming November.

About Dental Trade Alliance Foundation

The DTA Foundation’s mission is to increase access to and utilization of oral health care by broadening literacy of oral health’s impact on overall health. Its vision is a healthy smile for all. The DTA Foundation works to achieve this mission through its partnerships, grants, and scholarships programs. Find out more about DTA Foundation at www.dtafoundation.org.

About American Academy of Pediatric Dentists Foundation

The AAPD Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, is the nation’s largest dentist-led charity dedicated to children’s oral health. AAPD Foundation strives to ensure every child has a dental home, a place where they can receive consistent, compassionate dental care. The Foundation has given more than $4.9 million in grants and commitments throughout the last eight years with Access to Care initiatives helping provide dental care for more than 354,000 children whose families cannot afford dental care.

About Kid’s Community Dental Clinic of Burbank

The Kids’ Community Dental Clinic is a nationally recognized dental home serving LA County offering free or low-cost comprehensive and restorative oral care to vulnerable low-income families to fight healthcare inequity.