By Liz Underwood, PR Counsel, The Moore Agency
The Florida Dental Association (FDA) applauds Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature’s commitment to helping promote oral health for all Floridians, including the allocation of $2 million in recurring funding to implement Florida’s dental student loan repayment and Donated Dental Services (DDS) programs.
“The Florida Dental Association thanks Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for providing funding for these two programs to improve oral health, and resulting overall health, for all Floridians, by bringing dentists to where they are needed most,” said Dr. Gerald Bird, president of the FDA. “With this investment, Florida dentists can start helping thousands of patients in need this year through these two programs.”
This milestone funding will support the implementation of Florida’s dental student loan repayment program to encourage dentists to practice in public health programs and serve low-income patients in designated rural and underserved areas. Florida is one of only five states without a dental student loan repayment program, and dentists graduate with student loan debt averaging $300,000. Participating dentists may receive $50,000 a year to help repay their loans and can serve in the program for up to five years.
This funding will also expand Florida’s DDS program, which recruits and connects volunteer dentists with seniors and individuals who have disabilities or are medically compromised, to provide comprehensive dental services – at no cost – in dentists’ offices with support from volunteer dental labs to provide supplies like crowns and dentures. Oral health is critical to maintaining overall health, particularly for individuals managing chronic diseases or conditions or undergoing critical medical procedures or treatments.
Additionally, $500,000 in funding was provided to support the 2024 Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM), which is an annual two-day dental event sponsored by the FDA Foundation to provide treatment to patients, who for many reasons, lack access to dental care. FLA-MOM is held in a different city each year, and previous events held in Tampa, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach have provided more than 13,000 patients with donated dental care valued at more than $13.5 million.
The FDA also applauds the inclusion of a sales tax exemption on oral hygiene products in the tax package approved by the governor and the Legislature. Oral hygiene and preventive care, including brushing twice a day and flossing daily, are critical to keeping teeth and mouths healthy.
“Oral health has far-reaching impacts on the overall health and well-being of our communities,” said Dr. Bird. “By supporting solutions that promote access to routine dental services and preventive care for all Floridians, we can make a lasting impact on people’s lives, health and futures.”
Beyond the Bite 