PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AMONG SOUTH CAROLINIANS
AIDED THROUGH ORAL HEALTH GRANTS

Delta Dental of South Carolina’s Funding Helps Thousands Live Better Lives Through Improved
Dental Health and Grant Applications Are Currently Being Accepted 

COLUMBIA, SC. (April 24, 2024) … Those with limited mobility and other challenges struggle to receive dental examinations and treatment, as most dental practices are not equipped to accommodate patients with special needs. Yet, in recent years, more than 800 patients with unique needs throughout South Carolina were able to get crucial dental care through Prisma Health - Midlands, after it received life-changing oral health grants from Delta Dental of South Carolina, a leading dental benefits provider and non-profit organization.

Funding received by Prisma Health - Midlands allowed its Department of Dentistry to significantly improve access for patients with special needs and mobility challenges through the purchase of three procedure chairs with tilt and lift capabilities, a lift system for one of the procedure rooms, a mobile x-ray machine and intraoral sensors for digital imaging. The equipment upgrades enhanced treatment capabilities, increased patient capacity, improved provider experience, promoted inclusivity, ensured greater accessibility for patients and impacted overall satisfaction with the care received. It also enabled the organization to expand its weekly special needs appointment availability from one day a week to three and treat special needs patients at one of its satellite locations.

“The dentist was great with my disabled son,” commented the parent of a child who recently received care. “I have been trying to find a dentist that was willing to work on his teeth since 2018. I appreciate everything that Prisma dentistry did to help my disabled son.”

Cindy Nichols, DMD, chair of the dentistry department at Prisma Health, said, “We are incredibly thankful to Delta Dental of South Carolina for this grant opportunity to help us serve the high volume of special needs patients we treat annually. We treat special needs patients from the entire state through family self-referral and our extensive provider referral system.”

Delta Dental of South Carolina has provided millions of dollars in support of organizations that align with its mission to improve oral health and help South Carolinians of all ages access vital dental treatment and educational services. In the last two years alone, the company provided more than $920,000 in funding to 25 organizations across South Carolina – which included two grants totaling $145,800 for Prisma Health - Midlands.

“Our mission is to help people of all ages live better lives through improved dental health,” stated Stacy Harris, supervisor of community outreach at Delta Dental of South Carolina. “By donating grants to a variety of organizations—like Prisma Health - Midlands—together we can help connect thousands of people to essential dental resources to enhance their overall health and quality of life.”

Delta Dental of South Carolina awards grants for general operations, programs, projects and capacity-building efforts promoting the oral health of individuals in South Carolina. Objectives of its grant program include:

• Reducing oral disease through education, prevention and treatment

• Ensuring access to affordable, timely and high-quality dental care

• Enhancing the awareness of good oral health with a focus on children and individuals in need

• Making a measurable difference in the oral health of South Carolinians

• Helping to ensure that South Carolina is among the states with the highest indicators of oral health

To learn more, visit https://www.deltadentalsc.com/AboutUs/oral-health-grant-program.

About Delta Dental of South Carolina

Delta Dental of South Carolina is a trade name of Delta Dental of Missouri, a dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, which operates in South Carolina under that name. It provides more than 370,000 members in South Carolina with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. It also created the South Carolina Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at www.DeltaDentalSC.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalSC.com.