Dental Grants In America
Dental Grant in America are designed to encourage good dental health practices and to help prevent dental cavities, gum disease and oral cancer.
The state dental health programs are the main entities responsible for carrying out the basic activities regarding the oral health conditions in different states.
Local health departments in association with the dental community and public/private schools also organize various dental health activities. Promoting dental sealants and monitoring the fluoride content of drinking water are examples of disease prevention activities.
The American Dental Association provides many resources for dental health activities.
Dental Grants For Low Income Adults
The Dental Grants Program is a donation program run in collaboration with participating dentists. To start, we provide each participating dentist with patient-focused services, such as:
- Reception and screening of patients
- Patient planning
- Appointment confirmations
- appointment reminders
- Treatment plan education
- Patient Fee Payment Guarantee
- Pre-financing qualification, and
- Patient Advocacy
The dentist saves substantial costs by not requiring his own staff to perform these services. These cost savings are then passed on to grant applicants in the form of an initial 25-30% reduction in the cost of dental professional fees, on a one-time basis.
Participating dentists may also make a lump sum contribution to the dental grant program for each applicant to cover other costs such as advertising.
If/when the dentist pays us a fee, this does not take into account patient outcomes.
How To Apply Dental Grants?
A dental grant is free and is available to any resident over the age of 18 who wishes to improve their oral health and restore confidence in their smile.
To be eligible for a dental grant, an applicant must:
- An applicant submits a grant application on our website.
- Applicant information is confirmed by our staff.
- A dentist close to the applicant agrees to provide a free evaluation and consultation, then contacts the applicant to arrange an appointment.
- Dentist determines eligibility. If the applicant is not eligible, the dentist will make the necessary recommendations
- If/when eligible, the dentist will provide the applicant with a cosmetic or dental implant treatment plan.
The dentist will charge for the exam and x-rays on your first visit, but you can eliminate the cost of x-rays if you bring your own x-rays that were taken at least 6 months before your appointment.
Government Dental Grants
Government Dental grants care exist – but not in the form of financial assistance that people expect – the federal government provides scholarships to universities, state agencies and non-profit organizations – not to individuals.
Start with the Grants.gov website to see where free government money is flowing and apply to any logical endpoint. Meanwhile, the federal government supports other programs that act as indirect subsidies to reduce or eliminate oral care costs.
- Medicaid covers oral care differently based on patient age
- Medicaid covers dental care for children in all fifty states
- Medicaid dental coverage for adults varies depending on your state of residence
- The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) includes oral care
- IRS tax code cuts dental costs
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Deduction of unreimbursed expenses
1. Dental Grants For Low-Income Adults
Dental grants for low-income adults are a good starting point for many people without money to fix their teeth. Many of the programs mentioned above target adults living in poverty, as well as a few others.
- Low-income households are often eligible for Medicaid, which could cover all of your oral care needs at no cost.
- Low-income households are also eligible for other financial assistance programs that reduce other expenses, freeing up resources to pay for dental care.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
2. Single Mother Dental Grant
Dental Grants for Single Mothers fall into the low-income category, as single parents often earn very little money. A parent living alone while raising a child at the same time cannot work so many hours or devote so much time to enriching their resume with relevant experience.
Additionally, single mothers often have a wide range of financial needs when raising children on their own without the help of a partner. These specialized programs can help by freeing up resources to pay for dental care.
- Women Infants & Children (WIC)
- Child care assistance program
- Childcare tax credit (CCIE)
3. Dental Grants For Disabled Adults
Dental grants for adults with disabilities also fall into the low-income category because the two Social Security disability programs pay very few benefits each month.
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays an average of just $1,300 a month to people who have worked and paid FICA taxes
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays just $794 per month, and you have resource limits of just $2,000 in book assets
Adults with disabilities can also tap into grants given to charities. For example, Dental Lifeline Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides nationwide access to treatment and education for people who cannot afford it and:
- Have a permanent disability or
- Elderly: 65 years or older or
- Who are medically fragile
4. Recover Addicts Dental Grants
Dental grants for recovering addicts also fall into the low-income category as former methamphetamine users, and heroin users are less employable due to their bad teeth and patchy work history.
In addition to the resources listed above, recovering addicts can tap into other programs that may help in related areas.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a government agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA publishes an archive of grant awards that allows recovering addicts to identify local programs that have received awards. However, most of this funding is dedicated to drug prevention and treatment. Apart from this the Mental health grant is those patients who are suffering from mental disorders.
- Regional Charities are springing up to provide oral care assistance to former drug addicts. For example, Wally’s War Against Addiction brings smiles to those affected in the Concord, New Hampshire area.
5. Dental Grants For Seniors
Dental grants for seniors can also fall into the low-income category because Social Security retirement benefits can leave seniors in poverty if they don’t have 401K or IRA funds.
In addition, free dental care for seniors is slightly more realistic, as two assistance programs could apply to seniors, who often need help fixing their teeth and have little money.
Private Dental Grants
Private companies market dental grant programs to help customers increase their customer base and business income. However, they offer little help to low-income adults who lack the resources to pay for treatment.
Participating dentists offer partial grants to attract new patients with high oral care needs. To get certain services for free, you must agree to do three things that benefit the practice.
- Pay first for any treatment to restore oral health
- Fund remaining partial grant expenses
- Allow the firm to publicize the price in public places
Find Money You Don’t Need To Pay Back Like:
Personal Savings
You can use your savings to help pay for dental school. Creating a budget can give you an idea of how much of your savings you want to contribute.
A budget can show you what your monthly expenses are and how much money to put in an emergency fund. Speak to a financial advisor if you have questions.
Dental School Scholarships and Grants
Some dental schools may offer scholarships, grants, or assistantships to their students. Grants are generally need-based, while scholarships can be either need-based or merit-based scholarships. Both types of aid do not need to be repaid.
Dental Assistant Grant are usually awarded on merit. These positions may offer a tuition discount in exchange for 10-15 hours of on-campus work each week. Your school might offer teaching assistantships (TA), research assistantships (RA), or both.
Check the websites of the schools you are applying to and talk to their financial aid offices to find out more.
Other Grants
Some dental associations and for-profit companies offer scholarships, bursaries, and grants to dental students and/or are a resource for finding funding opportunities. Here are a few :
- American Student Dental Association: This association’s website has a comprehensive list of scholarship programs available to dental students.
- American Dental Association Foundation: The foundation of this organization awards the Dental Scholarship to students entering their second year at a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA): In partnership with several companies, ADEA offers dental scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $5,500.
- American Association of Public Health Dentistry: The association’s Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship provides dentists entering a master’s degree in public health programs with $10,000 toward tuition and expenses.
Service Programs
Depending on your field of study, you may be eligible for a program that covers your tuition, books, and more in exchange for a set number of years of service for that organization.
- National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship: This Ministry of Health program will cover tuition, books and living expenses for dental students during their studies. In exchange, you must work for one to two years in an approved high-needs area, city or rural town. In exchange for scholarships, scholars agree to provide primary health care grant and services in underserved communities. The program provides support for students seeking financial assistance to complete their health professions education in primary care. The NHSC SP pays tuition fees and various other reasonable education-related expenses and also provides a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses in exchange for a minimum of two (2) years of full-time service.
- Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP): This program is funded by the military – Army, Navy and Air Force – for students in health professions, including including dental students. You can cover all your tuition and fees, as well as a living allowance.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): If you work in a nonprofit, teaching hospital, or government organization after graduation, you may be eligible for this loan forgiveness program. This program only applies to federal loans you have taken out, not private loans. Usually, you must have already made 120 consecutive payments on your federal loans to qualify.
You can search for more grants using our apply online grants pinterest page. You can also contact the organizations directly for more information. Ask the school’s department heads for recommendations on scholarships, awards, or grants that might be the best fit for you.
- Apply For Dental Grants.