Northeast Arkansas Dental

DDS 4 NEA

Doing Dental Services for Northeast Arkansas Foundation is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3). Our mission is to provide dental healing and restoration through treatment and education to the uninsured population of Northeast Arkansas free of charge.  Our purpose is to operate and maintain an organization that will develop and manage educational programs throughout Northeast Arkansas to promote the importance of starting and maintaining proper dental hygiene, especially with young kids, the elderly and the uninsured.

Oral Health is an essential part of optimal health for all Arkansans and is much more than healthy teeth.  Oral Health means being free of cavities and gum disease, but it also means being free of chronic oral pain conditions, oral cancers, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate and other conditions that affect the mouth and throat.  According to the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services 23% of adult Arkansans have lost 6 or more teeth due to decay or gum disease.  Most of Northeast Arkansas has a 17 percent or higher poverty rate according to the USDA 2008 County-Level Poverty Rates.  It is hoped that making Arkansans aware of this information will serve to raise awareness of the need for continued vigilance and intervention in the area of oral health and serve to guide prevention and treatment efforts across the state.

Our Purpose:

• To operate and maintain an organization to develop  and manage educational  programs throughout Northeast Arkansas to promote the importance of starting and maintaining proper dental hygiene, especially with young kids, the elderly and the uninsured and underserved;
• To build, buy, sell, own, hold, mortgage, or otherwise encumber, lease, or otherwise hold, and to dispose of by sale or gift, real and personal property necessary or deemed useful to this corporation and/or to the humanitarian objects for which it is organized;
• To accept and receive gifts, bequests, and devises, and to become the beneficiary of any trust, and through its Board of Directors to serve as trustees for any funds or property and to manage, control, and dispose of the same;
• D.D.S for NEA Foundation will continue as an independent non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Directors serving without compensation and being responsible for the development of professional policies and fiscal policies to assure a continuing sound financial posture.
• To provide dental healing and restoration through treatment and education to the uninsured population of Northeast Arkansas

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jan 2011 to Jan 2012:

• JOSEPH SAMS, M.D. - CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD-EMPLOYED AT OBGYN ASSOCIATES
• JENNIFER HIGGINBOTHAM- VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
• AMY OSMENT - SECRETARY OF THE BOARD-EMPLOYED AT LIBERTY BANK
• MICHAEL HALLMARK - TREASURER BOARD –EMPLOYED AT IBERIA BANK
• LYNETTE CHASTAIN – EMPLOYED AT TARGET
• SCOTT JACKSON – EMPLOYED AT BARRETT AND DEACON
• STEPHANIE DAVIS – EMPLOYED AT NEA BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
• MEREDITH GREEN – EMPLOYED AT ST. BERNARDS HEALTHCARE
• YALANDA YOUNG – EMPLOYED AT AHEC UAMS
• FELICIA JOHNSON – EMPLOYED AT COLDWELL BANKERS REALTY GROUP
• ALEX LORENZANA – EMPLOYED AT OCCASIONS MAGAZINE
• DR. MATT CARLISLE – EMPLOYED AT DR. MICHEAL THOMPSON AND DR. MATT CARLISLE PERIODONTAL OFFICE
• DR. SUMMER TYSON – EMPLOYED AT JONESBORO PEDIATRIC DENTAL GROUP
• LESLIE PRATER – EMPLOYED AT NESTLE

Serving Northeast Arkansas

The counties the Foundation serves are Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Independence, Izard Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, St. Francis, Sharp, Woodruff and possibly more for those willing to travel and make the drive to one of the four Higginbotham Family Dental locations where the treatments will be performed.

The Foundation will provide services to adults, children, pregnant women, and cancer patients who need dental extractions, fillings and periodontal treatment.  The Foundation will not take payment from the patients but instead request they sit through educational sessions with our hygienist to learn how to properly take care of their gums and teeth to prevent future oral health problems. We will take patients on an appointment basis, if they meet the requirements of the application. The Foundation does not discriminate because of race, age or gender. To receive free dental treatment the applicant and their family can’t be over 180% of the US Poverty guidelines, can’t have commercial dental insurance, can’t have Medicaid unless they are a cancer or pregnant patient and must currently be employed.

Required for Applications:

1. You must provide verification of family income which can be last year's tax return.
2. W-2 or a copy of the most recent pay stubs.
3. Medical release from your OB doctor if you are pregnant.

Thank you to our Sponsors for supporting us!

Platinum:

• Higginbotham Family Dental
• Occasions Magazine
• East Arkansas Broadcasters-KISS FM 101.7, KFIN 107.9, and The Wolf 95-9

Gold Sponsors:

• B&B Printing
• Barrett and Deacon
• The Eric Burch All Start Team
• Braces By Burris and Associates
• Henry Schein Dental
• Rdent Laboratory

Silver Sponsors:

• Nobel Biocare
• The Oral and Implant Surgery Center
• Greenway Equipment
• Liberty Bank
• DryIt
• Jonesboro Pediatric Dental Group
• Charles Dewey
• Supertints
• Sound Concepts
• Halsey Outdoor
• Farm Bureau Insurance