Dental care for individuals with special needs is the answer to a long-standing medical need. By virtue of their special needs, many children cannot receive traditional dental services. Dentists with specialized training are needed to care for these children.

In 1970 the Humanitarian Foundation, Grottoes of North America, started on a path to help special needs children with their dental treatment. Dental Care for Children with Special Needs Program began a unique partnership with qualified dentists throughout the United States and Canada. The program was designed to help these children with the best dental care possible. Since its inception, children have been treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, in Chicago, IL, Medical College of Ohio, in Toledo, OH and Children's Medical Center in Dallas, as National Treatment Centers. Through the extension program, a child can be treated in his/her community by a local dentist and/or hospital. The Parents select the dentist of their choice and our program works directly with the dental office to process the claim and issue payment.

The services are rendered free of charge to any child under the age of 18 without regard to faith, race, creed or color. Each child is sponsored by a local Grotto. The program covers children afflicted with the following:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Dental Treatment for Organ Transplant Children
• Mentally Challenged *
  (*Mentally challenged covers from profound to two years, overall, developmentally delayed)