About Us
The Dental Care Access Foundation was formed by local dentists in our community attempting to help ease the emergency room visits of individuals with dental pain, infection and swelling. Our mission became clear to recruit dentists and specialists across our tri-county area to take one or two patients a month in their private practices to help patients suffering from emergencies. We began partnering with local clinics and the FDA to develop a program that allows the provider to volunteer under the protection of the State of Florida Department of Health Volunteer Health Care Provider Program.
Recently, the FDA was approached to give continuing education credit for volunteerism that is equivalent to one credit for one hour of volunteerism. This applies to volunteerism in your office as well as events and volunteerism in our outlying clinics. We are always recruiting for dentists, specialists, hygienists and assistants.
Our statistics are increasing, but our community emergency dental needs are still not being met. Local hospitals are inundated with patients needing antibiotics and sent home to get an exam by a dentist. Many of these patients lack the funds to pay for visits without insurance and the infection eventually comes back.
Since 2005, our volunteers at the Dental Care Access Foundation have helped give 219 patients $136,579 in free emergency dental care through our private practice volunteerism and outlying clinics. They have also given 1178 patients $359,749 in free dental services through our three local annual events. Help us continue our mission and receive continuing education credits while you volunteer. We need your help!