PDS Foundation raises $180K for special needs

The Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation has raised more than $180,000 for oral care for people with special needs through a virtual 5K walk/run event it held on December 5 and 6.

The fundraiser proceeds will go to the PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs clinic in Phoenix, which provides oral healthcare to children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, the foundation said. Participants raised more than $100,000, while the PDS Foundation contributed $80,000.

Although more than 52 million people in the U.S. have special needs, less than 10% of dentists treat them because of a lack of training and/or patients' resistance to dental procedures, according to the foundation. Dentists specifically trained to work with special needs patients provide care at the PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs clinic.