Already a Healthy Smile Hero?

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A pediatric dentist and a patient in a dentist's office

Big Love
for Little Teeth

With your support, we are helping to ensure all little teeth get the care they need and deserve.

$10,290,360

Donated Dollars

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See Our Impact

Oral health directly affects overall health

Children do not have equal access to the dental care they need

Half of the children in elementary school have cavities. Cavities in young kids can harm their health, development, and quality of life – both in the short-term and over time. 

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51 percent

of children between the ages of 6 and 11 have cavities.*

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1 in 10 children

with cavities suffers from pain, making it hard to chew and eat healthy foods.*

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51 million

hours of school are lost each year in the U.S. because of poor oral health.* 

*Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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A young girl sits in an exam chair smiling while a dentist smiles behind her.

OUR IMPACT ON LITTLE TEETH

How we make a difference

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation is dedicated to making dental care accessible to all children by providing community dental grants to support dentist-led clinics who give routine cleanings, advanced treatments, and ongoing care to kids in need.

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Get Involved

See what we’re all about! Tune in to the latest news to stay up to date on everything we’re doing.

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Two smiling young children stand outdoors with a tooth mascot.

Featured News

Read more about supporting all children in their need for proper dental care.

See All News

A provider speaks with a patient’s mother during an exam.
A provider speaks with a patient’s mother during an exam.

Events

Join us for any upcoming events! Missed an event? Don’t worry! We have them all here for you.

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Dental Care For All

Help Kids Shine With A Healthy Smile

You can educate caregivers, promote your practice, and delight your patients with printable activities, posters, social posts & more!

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Become a healthy smile hero!

With your help, we can give more children the dental care they need—and the healthy smile they deserve.

Stories & Testimonials

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Maria’s Story

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Mary Anne’s Story

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A Mother’s Story

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Dr. Poelman’s Testimonial

A young boy gets a dental exam from a female provider.

Dr. Day’s Testimonial

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Ms. Hoffman’s Testimonial