When clinics close, children lose

Foundation allocates $4 million in Bridge Grants for grantee clinics facing federal cuts

Millions of children are about to lose access to dental care. In response, the AAPD Foundation has committed $4 million toward emergency grants for when when anticipated cuts in federal funding take effect. These Bridge Grants – representing the largest single-year allocation in the Foundation’s history – are intendend to help mitigate some of the policy changes’ devastating impact on vulnerable children.

“Unfortunately, these anticipated cuts are not a matter of if, but when,” said AAPD Foundation President Dr. Mario Ramos. “And, with federal funding comprising on average two-thirds of nonprofit clinics’ annual revenue, the consequences of these cuts are brutal: millions of vulnerable children will suffer.”

Each year, roughly 20 million children access essential dental services through Medicaid reimbursements and local programs supported by federal grants. Once these policy shifts take effect, community clinics caring for the nation’s most at-risk children will face impossible choices: curtailing operating hours, scaling back treatments, laying off essential staff, or shuttering their doors completely. Millions of children already living with tooth decay and oral pain will lose their only source of care.

“The AAPD Foundation always will stand up for kids,” Dr. Ramos said. “That’s why we have allocated nearly one quarter of our existing assets to meet this challenge.”

The Foundation is currently developing application guidelines and review processes for qualifying clinics in order to respond swiftly once cuts materialize. Bridge Grants will be available by invitation only, with the Foundation aiming to distribute payments within 60 days following the application closing date.

“We know our funding cannot replace what will be lost, but we hope the speed of our fulfillment will serve as a bridge for our grantees – and the kids in their care – while they pursue funding from alternate sources,” Dr. Ramos said. “There has never been a more important time to be a Healthy Smile Hero than now,” he said.

Together, we can make a difference!

Your gift helps bridge the gap to keep children connected to care, 
no matter what funding changes may come.

Thank you for your support!

Healthy Smile Heroes don’t wait for change, they fund it. Every donation strengthens our network of clinics and providers ensuring pediatric dental care for kids in need. We are grateful to our generous donors – we can’t do it without you!

Full Pledge & Donors

Letter from the President

We are at a crucial moment for children’s oral health in our country. Nonprofit clinics that serve our most vulnerable children are facing unprecedented challenges.  Rising costs and federal funding cuts threaten the very infrastructure that provides dental care to marginalized children who have nowhere else to turn.

Underserved children across the U.S. still wake up with toothaches that prevent them from concentrating
in school or even prevent them from being able to go to school.  They still suffer infections that could have been prevented. We all can agree that they still deserve the same quality of 
care as any other child. What has changed is that the safety net that was designed to protect them is fraying.

This is precisely the moment the AAPD Foundation was built for. Thanks to our donors’ support, we stand ready to meet this crisis. Your generosity has allowed the Foundation to step up when our grantee clinics need us most. Now, we must do exactly that.

To our long-time supporters: Your sustained commitment has prepared us for this challenge, and we cannot thank you enough. To those considering joining our mission: There has never been a more critical time. When clinics close, children lose.

Please stand up for all children. Your contributions directly support the nonprofit clinics on the front lines of this crisis that only will worsen in 2026. These clinics are real dental homes. They are the only places where many children can receive dental care. If these clinics struggle, children will suffer.

Together, we can ensure that funding cuts don’t translate into children with pain. We know this is a stopgap, not a solution. But doing nothing simply isn’t an option.

The need is urgent. Our resolve is firm. And thanks to your support, we will continue to ensure that every child has access to the dental care they deserve.

Thank you for a great AAPD 2025

The Healthy Smile Hero had a rockin’ time AAPD 2025 in Denver. It was an unforgettable celebration of education, connection, philanthropy, and community. Scan the QR code to relive the fun!/Click here for the full recap! We hope to see you in Las Vegas in 2026.