Community Services

National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM)
NCDHM is an annual public service program directed by the ADA each February. The IDA and its components coordinate community activities to educate children about the value of good dental health.

"Give Kids A Smile!" Day (GKAS)
On one day in February each year, dentists across the nation provide free oral health care to thousands of low-income children.  February 3, 2012, is GKAS day. During GKAS events in 2009, 190 dentists provided more than $460,000 in free dental care to 3,450 Iowa children.

Iowa Dental Elderly Access (IDEA)
IDEA is a voluntary program that serves older, low-income individuals. Dentists who volunteer agree to provide qualifying patients with discounts from usual fees.

Donated Dental Services (DDS)
The Donated Dental Services is a program to assist disabled or elderly people who cannot afford comprehensive dental treatment and have no other financial assistance.  Contact Phyliss at (515) 964-0034 or (800) 985-0034 to file an application.  Through the Iowa Donated Dental Services program, Iowa dentists provided a per-patient average of $2,642 of free dental care to 179 elderly and persons with disabilities in the year ending June 30, 2010.

Iowa Mission of Mercy (IA MOM)
The Iowa Mission of Mercy is held on a yearly basis in a different location throughout the State of Iowa.  The Iowa MOM provides two days of free dental care on a first come-first serve basis.  Iowa dentists served nearly 4,500 patients with more than $2.5 million in free dental health services during the first three Iowa Missions of Mercy in Waterloo, Newton, and Cedar Rapids.  For more information, click here.

For a listing of other related organizations, click on "Patient Resources".