No child should grow up without the benefit of good dental hygiene. Poor oral health among children has been related to poor performance in school, poor social relationships, and less success later in life. SSM Health has given a $20,000 donation to the Fond du Lac County Health Department Save a Smile Dental Program to help area children and adults with limited finances to receive dental services. Recent Wisconsin data shows that Fond du Lac County had more than 17,000 individuals on Medical Assistance in January 2023 with only one local dental provider accepting this coverage. The Save a Smile Children’s Dental Program provides preventive and restorative dental services for Fond du Lac County residents, ages 18 and under, with Medical Assistance only. The Save a Smile Adult Program assists only with urgent dental needs. Adults on Medical Assistance or that meet a specified income level may be eligible for assistance. It does not cover root canals, crowns, partials or dentures. “This program allows families to receive dental care locally instead of having to travel long distances for care,” according to Stephanie Hopf, Save a Smile Dental Program coordinator. “Oral health is often an overlooked piece of the health puzzle, and oral health and overall health are directly related. Someone with poor oral health is more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetes, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Preventive dental care can help to reduce the overall burden of disease and health care costs.” Save a Smile exemplifies public and private partners coming together to address a local community need, including SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac. “SSM Health recognizes the importance of dental care access for individuals and how poor dental health negatively impacts physical health,” according to Dawn Vandenberg, SSM Health Mission Integration regional director. “Supporting Save a Smile fits within our mission to provide compassionate care for all.” For more information on the Save a Smile program, call the Fond du Lac County Health Department at 920-929-3090. In 2023, SSM Health’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $630,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.
