Improving Access to Oral Health Care for All: Pacific Dental Services Foundation Highlights 2024 Achievements

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pacific Dental Services^® (PDS) Foundation made significant progress in 2024, expanding access to essential oral health care and reaching more patients and communities than ever before. From expanding care for patients with special needs to providing essential oral health care for veterans and other underserved communities, the PDS Foundation made meaningful progress in addressing critical gaps in care. It also strengthened its commitment to developing the next generation of dental professionals by supporting aspiring dental assistants with scholarships, mentorship, and hands-on training. Beyond the U.S., the PDS Foundation's ongoing work in Guatemala ensured year-round care for communities with limited access to dental services.

"This year was a testament to the power of collaboration and the generosity of those who believe in our mission," said Michael Le, Executive Director of the PDS Foundation. "With the support of our volunteers, donors, and partners, we expanded critical programs, increased access to care, and provided more tuition assistance than ever before to future dental assistants. These efforts are making a lasting impact, and we remain dedicated to expanding care and supporting those who need it most."

With the support of donors, partners and advocates, the PDS Foundation achieved several key milestones in 2024:  

Dental Assistant Scholarships

• Awarded over $243,000 to more than 60 dental assisting students thanks to the Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship program, which provides support for tuition expenses.
• Since its inception, the program has provided over $2 million in scholarships to more than 320 students, helping dental assistants (DAs) launch careers in health care and strengthening the dental workforce across the country.   

International Service

• Conducted four week-long trips to Xenacoj, Guatemala, providing donated dental care at the PDS Foundation Clínica Dental, including the first-ever trip where dental and medical providers served patients together.
• Clínica Dental's Guatemala-based team provided ongoing care to more than 1,600 patients in 2024, delivering over $1.3 million in donated dentistry, in addition to the PDS Health collaborative dental-medical trips.
• Welcomed faculty and students from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and University of San Carlos of Guatemala for hands-on experience providing oral health care to local patients.

Special Needs Dentistry

• PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office in Phoenix, Ariz. saw nearly 5,000 patient visits, welcoming 500 new patients and continuing care for 1,500 existing patients.
• Partnered with Smile Generation to raise more than $915,000 to increase access to special needs dentistry and provide specialized clinician training.
  • The 60-day "Smile for Special Needs" in-office campaign raised a record-breaking $650,000 from more than 14,000 donors.
  • The "Stroll for Special Needs 5K" brought together over 670 participants and raised $165,000 in support of special needs dentistry. PDS Health contributed $100,000 to help support this much needed effort.
  • Local fundraising efforts across PDS Health regions raised nearly $100,000.
• The Dentists for Special Needs office earned the Certified Autism Center^™ designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), becoming the first general practice dental office in the U.S. to earn this credential. The certification recognizes the office's ability to provide specialized care for patients with autism and sensory sensitivities.

Give Vets a Smile Campaign

• Provided over $73,000 in donated dental care to veterans in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M. as part of the American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation's nationwide Give Vets a Smile campaign.

High Point University Partnership

• Donated the Mobile Dental Clinic to High Point University's Workman School of Dental Medicine to support students-led community service and hands-on training. The fully equipped RV, featuring two dental chairs, will enable students to provide quality care to patients with limited access to dental services.

Smile Kits

• Distributed over 2,000 Smile Kits — desensitization kits designed to ease dental anxiety — to dental offices, non-profits and schools nationwide. Assembled by PDS Health volunteers, the kits help patients prepare for dental visits, making the experience more manageable.

"We're proud to support dental offices by providing Smile Kits and offering guidance to parents, caregivers and behavioral therapists to help their loved ones feel more comfortable during dental visits," said Le. "Thank you to our volunteers, supporters, advocates and donors who have helped us reach new milestones this year. We look forward to continuing to build on these efforts in 2025."

Click here to learn more about the PDS Foundation or make a tax-deductible gift today.

About Pacific Dental Services Foundation
The Pacific Dental Services^® Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to improve overall health through opportunities to serve locally, nationally and internationally. The PDS Foundation provides tools and resources to help build a lasting and sustainable impact on the communities it serves as well as on the volunteers who freely give their time. The vision of the PDS Foundation is a world where everyone has a heart to serve and a home for oral health. Through its three main programs: special needs dentistry, dental assistant scholarships and international service trips, the PDS Foundation has been able to increase access to oral healthcare for communities across the globe. For more information, visit pdsfoundation.org.

SOURCE Pacific Dental Services Foundation