For Patients

Dental Grant Restrictions and Guidelines

1. Dental Grant Restrictions

- Grants are specific to the purpose outlined in the grant voucher.

- Vouchers are restricted and can only be used for the exact dental procedure you have been diagnosed with and for which you received a treatment plan.  

- To maintain our 503 (c)(3) status, dental providers involved in the diagnosis and treatment process will have to be approved by Smile Fund to avoid grant misuse, make high-quality dental care available, and maintain our charitable mission. 

- We only give out dental grants for medically necessary dental procedures. 

2. Determining the Grant Amount

- Grant amounts are based on the patient's application and available funds.

- Our goal is to maximize funding, covering either 100% or a partial amount of the dental implants.

- The exact grant amount depends on fund availability. If you know of an organization or individual who would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please guide them to our "Make a Donation" section of this website. 

3. Voucher Usage Guidelines

- Vouchers must be used within 45 days of the issue date.

- Vouchers are non-transferable, cannot be sold, and can only be redeemed as specified.

4. Consequences of Violating Voucher Restrictions

- Any violation of voucher restrictions will void the voucher.

- Violations will also make the applicant ineligible for future grants from Smile Fund USA.

Important Information for Dental Grant Applicants

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Smile Fund USA encourages everyone to submit an application, even if you’re unsure about meeting all the guidelines or restrictions. Your application matters—not just for your potential assistance, but also for the success of our program as a whole. The more people who apply, the stronger our case for increased funding to support even more patients in need of financial assistance. By applying, you help us demonstrate the demand and expand our ability to make a difference. Please don’t hesitate to fill out an application—we’re here to help as many people as possible!

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Current Restrictions on Grant Application Eligibility

1. San Diego County Residents

Smile Fund USA is in the early stages of development and can currently only accept applications from residents of San Diego County. We are actively distributing grants to eligible individuals in this area.

California Residents Outside San Diego County:

We also maintain a database of applicants from across California and will consider expanding our reach to Los Angeles and Northern California as additional funding becomes available and our charity is growing. We appreciate your patience and strive to provide everyone with the opportunity for quality dental care.

If you live outside California, please come back to this section at a later time. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

2. Low-Income Residents

To ensure that low-income Americans receive dental grant funds, we give you the following options to show that you are in need of financial support. Please submit one or more of the following documentation (as an attachment on the application form):

A. If Employed: Proof of income in the form of the most recent tax return, most recent pay stub, or benefits statement.

B. Proof of your most recent bank statements of savings or checking.

C. If You Receive Government Assistance: Proof of any government assistance like SNAP or Medicaid.

D. Healthcare & Dental Insurance Coverage: Proof of Covered California Healthcare, Dental Insurance coverage, if applicable.

Grant Application Process

1. Read, and review our Notice of Privacy Policy.

2. View, complete, sign, and submit our HIPAA Authorization and Patient Consent Form.

4. View our Grant Restrictions and Guidelines on this page (above).

5. Fill out and submit the Grant Application Form, and be as accurate and complete as possible.

2. After we receive your grant application, including the HIPAA Authorization and Patient Consent forms, we will reach out to a local dentist—either one we select in your geographic area or the one you specify.

3. The dentist will contact you to schedule a dental exam and develop a diagnosis, and treatment plan.

4. After your appointment, your dentist will provide Smile Grant USA with basic details about the recommended treatment and the cost.

5. Once funding becomes available, we'll send you a grant voucher, which may be available immediately or take a few months depending on your position on the waitlist. Please know that we do our best to raise funds as quickly as possible to help as many grant recipients as possible. 

6. When you receive the voucher, you are encouraged to contact your dentist to proceed with the procedure and redeem your voucher.