The Free Clinic of Kalamazoo, which began a dental screening program through the First Presbyterian Church in 1998 and subsequently became independent of the church in 2007. The Free Clinic provides screenings by local volunteer dentists and hygienists to indigent patients with dental emergencies. After determining what treatment is needed the patients are then referred to participating dentists in the area to receive that treatment at no cost. In 2007, The Free Clinic had ten local dentists provide bi-weekly screenings and 28 local dentists [General Dentists, Oral Surgeons, and Endodontists] provided in-office, free care to over 480 patients totaling over $72,000 in donated services. Dental screenings are done Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8pm and are open to indigent patients without Medicaid or other dental insurance programs. The Free Clinic of Kalamazoo can be contacted at 269.344.0044 or visit their website at http://www.kzoofreeclinic.org/

Michigan Donated Dental Services, a cooperative venture between the Michigan Dental Association and National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, which launched in the fall of 1995 with a cadre of volunteer dentists that has grown to over 800 as of 2007; 400 who practice in the southeastern section of the state and the remainder in the rest of Michigan. In addition, 190 dental laboratories donate some of the prostheses, crowns and bridges needed by so many of the people treated. Currently 45 KVDDS Member Dentists participate in Donated Dental Services. In 2007 over $1,000,000 of dental care was donated to just under 400 patients. The populations for whom dental services are provided comprises:

• Persons who are physically and/or mentally impaired
• Persons with sensory impairments
• Persons who are medically compromised
• Elderly persons

Give-Kids-A-Smile Program is an annual event promoted by the ADA and MDA to encourage member dentists to deliver care to needy children in recognition and promotion of February being Children’s Dental Health Month. Over 350 Michigan dentists, many from the KVDDS, participated in 2007 delivering an estimated $800,000 in donated dental care to Michigan’s needy children.

In addition to the above-mentioned formal dental care programs, many KVDDS-member dentists participate in indigent care programs through numerous local church or charitable organizations which refer patients to their offices for treatment at reduced or no fee. For example, in the Plainwell area, Christian Neighbors is a multi-denominational organization that provides support to the needy and arranges for dental care through private offices for reduced or no fee by partnering with Plainwell area dentists. Many other charitable organizations like Christian Neighbors exist throughout the counties encompassed by the KVDDS and member dentists offer their services to the needy through them.

Additionally, member dentists also volunteer their services for missionary trips to Third World countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Christmas Island, where they treat indigenous populations that have no access to dental care of any kind, often requiring the volunteers to transport their own equipment and supplies to treat the patients in rustic, temporary and often bare-bones settings.