Our Mission
HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION "A SPECIAL SMILE" VIDEO
DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
A Charitable Venture of
The Grottoes of North America’s
The Grotto is a Masonic affiliated Fraternal Organization. Its purpose is to cement the bonds of sympathy and good fellowship among its members. There are Grottoes throughout the United States and Canada. Each Grotto is chartered by the Supreme Council, Grottoes of North America. For years the Grottoes have contributed to Cerebral Palsy Research and a Dental Program to provide needed dental care of many children with special needs.
Members of the Grottoes of North America have labored diligently to provide the necessary fund toward improvement in the oral health status of special needs children, who for some reason beyond their control are too often excluded from the mainstream of dental care.
This service is rendered FREE of charge to any qualified child under the age of 18 regardless of race, creed or color. The only prerequisite is that the child must be sponsored by a local Grotto. All dental needs must be pre-authorized for payment to the local dentist and\or hospital. Orthodontia, Major Jaw Surgery, Implants and Facial Re-constructive surgery are excluded under this program.
Dental care will be provided for a child with special needs under 18 years of age afflicted with any of the following conditions:
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Cerebral Palsy
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Muscular Dystrophy and related neuromuscular disorders
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Intellectual Disabilities*, including Downs Syndrome
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Dental Care of Organ Transplant recipient’s pre and post A qualified child’s parents select the dentist of their choice, make an appointment for an evaluation to determine the dental work needed and secure an estimate of charges for the proposed work. PLEASE NOTE: Any work proposed as well as charges, must be evaluated and approved BEFORE treatment is started, with the exception of the initial exam, prophy, fluoride and x-rays. Charges for the initial examination will be paid, regardless of the disposition of the application, providing the child qualifies for the program.
When insurance coverage is available for any portion of the billing, the Humanitarian Foundation is ALWAYS the secondary carrier, with the exception of Medicaid recipients, which often have full dental benefits (payment in full). Due to Medicaid laws, a dentist may not submit for any reimbursement once they have submitted bills for payments by Medicaid; however if dental work is not completely covered we may still be able to assist.
All applications submitted to Dental Care for Children with Special Needs are confidential. Each child must be sponsored by a local Grotto. Most Grottoes have a representative known as their Dr. of Smiles who will process the case locally and forward the completed forms to the Humanitarian Foundation Office in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
*covers from profound to two years overall, developmentally delayed, Documentation stating current mental age capacity from the child’s school licensed psychologist, or physician, may be required to accompany application.