When I first joined the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) team last year, I heard two phrases that I now keep front and center as I approach my work: “Let’s put the mouth back in the body” and “oral health is overall health.” As a newcomer to philanthropy and oral health, I continually reflect on these words while navigating the landscape of oral health in Colorado, understanding its complexities, and seeking solutions. Discovering that people of color face significant systemic barriers preventing them from achieving good oral health has been disheartening. However, reviewing applications and meeting prospective grantees for DDCOF’s 2024 grant opportunity gave me the chance to learn about organizations working to improve oral health across Colorado and gives me hope that some of the systemic barriers faced by Coloradans in receiving oral health care can be dismantled.
Spotlight on Deserving Dental
One of the nonprofit organizations that gives me hope is Deserving Dental. Deserving Dental was established in 2019 by founder and executive director Jennifer Geiselhofer. Jennifer was moved to action by the community need to close the gap in oral health care services for uninsured patients living in shelters who did not qualify for state assistance. For reference, the maximum yearly income for an individual to qualify for Medicaid in 2023 was $19,392.
The Deserving Dental team conducts pop-up dental clinics throughout the Denver metro area in shelters and community centers to meet people where they are and bring care directly to those who need it most. Deserving Dental collaborates with organizations like Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and Mercy Housing to amplify their impact. They also work with older adults living in long-term care facilities who cannot travel to dental offices and visit organizations serving under-resourced moms and babies.
Overcoming Barriers to Care
During periods of transition, whether due to job loss, homelessness, or other life circumstances, oral health tends to take a backseat. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs places survival essentials like food, shelter, and safety at the forefront, leaving dental care as an afterthought. Deserving Dental steps in precisely when people are most vulnerable, ensuring that oral health does not fall through the cracks.
Before joining DDCOF, I couldn’t have fully appreciated the importance of Deserving Dental’s work. I’ve learned that as the gateway to the body, oral health impacts systemic health through the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems, among others. Poor oral hygiene can lead to infections that can spread, contributing to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory issues. Staying on top of oral health care also keeps people’s smiles healthy, supporting self-esteem and preventing painful toothaches and decay.
Making a Difference
At Deserving Dental, the dental hygienists provide 90-minute appointments that go beyond cleaning teeth. They provide their full scope of work and listen, empathize, and connect patients to follow-up care. Navigating the health care system can be daunting, especially for non-English speakers. DDCOF provides support for Deserving Dental’s bilingual patient navigators help bridge the language gap, guiding patients through paperwork, appointments, and referrals, ensuring continuity of care.
Deserving Dental is not just about teeth, it’s about dignity, compassion, and resilience. It’s about transforming lives and ensuring that oral health is part of overall health. This captures the essence of creating oral health equity and we at DDCOF are proud to support their work.