Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Hannah Stevens
Illinois offers Dental Grants for Low Income Adults to help improve access to dental care and support the development of dental clinics for those living in the state.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) runs a variety of programs to improve dental access, and provide better oral care and treatment for the most vulnerable.
The HFS distributes the collected donations and funds to local healthcare facilities, Rural Health Clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers across Illinois in order to make dental services better.
These grants are awarded to underprivileged populations and areas.
HFS clients and members can also benefit from these grants. However, the program volunteers or specific association volunteers must approve the application first.
Dental Grants in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS), Donated Dental Services (DDS) Illinois, American Dental Association (ADA), and several other private dentists and dental clinics support grants programs in order to provide better oral health care and education for those who most need it.
Delta Dental of Illinois is an actively participating non-profit foundation in the state offering quality healthcare for Illinoisans.
The foundation also boasts the largest network of dentists in the region with the appropriate knowledge and experience to provide quality oral care.
There are many private dentists and clinics who have volunteered to help. However, their sole mission is to support and assist low-income and underprivileged families with a range of oral health resources.
Private dentists, laboratories, and clinics are not the only ones who can help you keep your smile healthy. There are also those in local, state, and federal governments that participate in this effort.
Are You Eligible For Dental Grants in Illinois?
The dental associations and help programs do everything possible to provide the best oral health services for all Illinoisans. However, priority is given to low-income families. And to help as many applicants as possible, the associations have established a criteria.
Eligible patients can receive free or reduced-cost treatment from volunteer dentists, clinics, and laboratories. These standards are designed to assist those who don’t have the resources to afford treatment.
The grants are given to applicants who apply for complimentary dental treatment only if:
- She/he is permanently disabled
- She/he is 65 years old or older
- She/he is considered medically compromised
- She/he doesn’t have enough income to pay for treatment
Only those applicants/patients who meet the requirements are qualified to receive grants on priority. While a letter of denial may be issued to others after the application forms have been reviewed.
You can also check for the eligibility criteria here https://dentallifeline.org/illinois/
Additionally, you may be charged for lab tests and x-rays, which are not covered by the dental grants.
Application Process
You will need to complete an application form with all required documents in order to apply for the free or low-cost dental treatment under the dental grants in Illinois.
The form to apply for a dental grant in Illinois is available here: https://dentallifeline.org/donated-dental-services-dds-application/
Applicants may also read and check the eligibility requirements and the step-by-step process to fill out the form correctly.
Please note that you must fill the form in one go since there is no auto-save option. The information you have filled in may be lost if the page is reloaded or the back button is pressed.
It is also important that the applicant does not leave any sections unfilled. And, the form might request the attachment of proof of disability.
Please follow the steps appropriately to complete the application form and apply for dental grants. A lot of applicants are denied because they did not follow the proper process.
Types of Dental Grants
According to the shared data on Dental Lifeline Network, over 820 volunteer dentists and 180 laboratories are working with Donated Dental Services (DDS).
The data also shows that donations totaling more than $22M have been collected, and more than 7,000 patients received benefits from the dental grants.
Cosmetic Dental Grants in Illinois
Applicants who need cosmetic dentistry treatment may also be eligible for dental grants. Cosmetic dentistry can be expensive. However, if you’re eligible for dental grants, they will be able to cover all the expenses.
Please note that grants for cosmetic dentistry are for specific treatments only and not for basic dentistry. Therefore, before applying, please confirm with your local dentist.
This is quite similar to the cosmetic Dental Grants in Georgia.
Dental Implant Grants in Illinois
Dental implants can be used to replace or insert a missing tooth. Although the treatment is expensive, dental grants offered by many programs and organizations can cover the costs of the procedure.
However, implant grants are not available to everyone, so applicants must verify it with the local volunteer dentist beforehand.
This is quite similar to the implant Dental Grants in Maryland.
Free Dental Implants Clinical Trials
Clinical trials for dental implants in Illinois might be the best way to save money on this expensive procedure.
Patients are protected on a high degree should they decide to participate in clinical trials. Under the supervision of licensed professionals, dentists conduct clinical trials for dental implants.
Numerous dental schools and non-profit funding programs in the state offer free clinical trials for dental implants. These trials allow dental students to experiment with new devices, drugs, and methods in order to improve their oral health care.
However, only patients with similar medical conditions and who meet exact criteria can participate in order for the clinical study to reach valid scientific conclusions. And in some cases, it can be difficult to find patients who meet all criteria.
The detailed announcement about the active clinical trials will provide information on eligibility criteria. You can search for ongoing clinical trials in Illinois to find the right treatment, and allow you to get lower-priced dental implants.
The College of Dentistry in Illinois plays an important role in improving oral health outcomes through their clinical research.
For more information about the clinical trials in Illinois, you can read more here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/
