Today is Giving Tuesday—a pivotal day for generosity and change. At the AAPD Foundation, we are on a mission to make dental care accessible to all children. With your help, we can provide grants to even more dentist-led clinics serving children in need.

Grantee clinics are doing important work to build a stronger, healthier, and more equitable community for everyone. Like Megan, a bright 5-year-old living in California whose visit to an AAPD Foundation-supported clinic in 2024 was her first ever visit to the dentist. As a child with epilepsy, speech delay, and tuberous sclerosis, she is no stranger to the lights and sounds of a hospital room. Her dental pain only added to the everyday challenges she faces as a child with special healthcare needs. 

Megan’s mother has faced countless obstacles when seeking dental care for her three children – high costs, lack of transportation, and scheduling complexities, just to name a few. These barriers in addition to Megan’s complex medical needs left her dental concerns untended for years.  In cases like Megan’s where dental treatment is initially delayed, minor concerns can evolve into painful infections that impact the child’s overall health. Children should not suffer from severe dental pain that prevents them from chewing, disturbs their sleep, and impacts their ability to focus and learn. The AAPD Foundation believes that children are integral to the future and they each deserve an equal chance to thrive.

Megan was able to receive much-needed treatment at an AAPD Foundation-supported clinic, and the clinic staff was able to establish an ongoing relationship with her family for continued comprehensive care. Foundation-supported clinics serve many children like Megan every year. But the need for dental services in underserved communities far exceeds what these organizations can currently provide with their existing staff, facilities, and resources.  

By ensuring children have access to dental healthcare regardless of their family’s situation, we are not just treating immediate health needs – we are breaking a cycle of inequality that can persist for generations. It’s an investment in our children, our communities, and the world we all want to live in. And that’s what being a Healthy Smile Hero is all about!

Your impact is powerful. Each dollar you donate on Giving Tuesday increases our ability to give more grants to provide for more children in need. Your donation could be used at a Grantee clinic as soon as this spring. 

Thank you for your generosity and for being a steadfast part of our community. Your support is as important to us as floss to a gumline. Together, we can make dental care accessible for all children, one smile at a time.