Dental Lifeline Network Reaches $250 Million Milestone In Donated Services

Start Discussion
Posted: April 5, 2014
Dental Lifeline Network, a national dental charity, reached a significant milestone in 2013: more than $250 million in dental services donated to people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile and have no other way to get help.

Through its flagship Donated Dental Services (DDS) program, volunteer dentists and laboratories of Dental Lifeline and its partner organizations in several states have provided life-sustaining, and even life-saving, dental treatment to 120,000 people. Founded in Colorado in 1985, DDS serves all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Dental Lifeline is a charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association.

DDS provides a national safety net to people with special needs who cannot afford care they desperately need. Donated by more than 15,000 dentists and 3,600 laboratories nationwide, treatment through DDS is comprehensive, unlike care provided through many other dental charities.

“Our success in making dental therapies accessible to people who critically need care is due to the overwhelming generosity of dentists who willingly contribute their services and staff time and the laboratories that support them,” noted Fred Leviton, DLN president. “For people who suffer daily with severe pain from fractured teeth, advanced periodontal disease and the inability to eat normally, dental treatment is life-transforming,” Leviton said.

More people who are medically fragile are being referred to DDS, because dental disease prevents people with chronic health problems from receiving lifesaving medical treatments. Dental health is a prerequisite for cancer patients who need chemotherapy, candidates for organ transplants or kidney dialysis, people with autoimmune diseases who require lifesaving medications, cardiac patients who cannot be treated surgically, and patients with crippling arthritis who need joint replacements. For these people, lack of dental therapies can result in progressive illness or premature death. Although some patients are eligible for Medicare, it does not cover dental treatment and, in most states, Medicaid provides little or no dental care for adults.

Since DLN began, it has grown through partnerships with state dental associations. Funding to support the volunteers comes from a variety of sources including state governments, foundations, dental organizations, and corporate and individual donors. Considerable support also comes from the dental trade industry including the Dental Trade Alliance and its member companies and the DTA Foundation through both financial contributions and donated materials such as teeth, alloy and dental supplies used by dentists and by volunteer laboratories for fabrications.

DLN is headquartered in Denver with DDS program coordinators located throughout the country who screen program applicants, match them with volunteer dentists, arrange for laboratory support and specialists as needed and provide logistical coordination between patients and providers. Patients are treated in the dentists’ offices. The average value of treatment is more than $3,000. Every dollar raised or contributed results in more than $10 of professional services.

DLN was founded in 1974 by Larry Coffee, DDS, a graduate of Northwestern University Dental School. For information to become a volunteer dentist or laboratory or to make a donation, please visit www.DentalLifeline.org or call 888-471-6334.

About Dental Lifeline Network. DLN is a nonprofit humanitarian program providing access to comprehensive dental care for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile and cannot afford treatment. For more information, visit www.DentalLifelineNetwork.org.
Views: 8
Start Discussion
Dentaltown Magazine
May 2026
Dentaltown Magazine May 2026 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
What’s actually driving most of your new patient flow right now?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Pods & Blogs Classifieds Dental News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
The Dentaltown Team, Farran Media Support
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: support@dentaltown.com
©2026 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450