Anderson Children's Foundation

Desert Friends of the Developmentally Disabled

We Care Dental (2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014)

Desert Friends of the Developmentally Disabled (DFDD), a nonprofit charity founded by Russell and Marianne Benson, is dedicated to serving the unmet dental needs of people with developmental disabilities, senior citizens, veterans, the uninsured and the under-insured. In September 2011, DFDD opened We Care Dental Center, 1,210-square-foot, State-of-the-art, four-chair clinic in Rancho Mirage, California.

The key to the Center’s success is the patience, love and understanding they show to each and every patient. In addition to our staff, we have several dental and hygiene students from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Kaplan College and Milan Institute. The students do procedures such as dental cleanings, examinations and fillings.

To remove the fear of dental procedures, We Care Dental does not use sedation when treating our developmentally disabled patients. Our dentists take the time to explain which procedures will be necessary and often hold a patient’s hand during treatments. This has practically done away with the use of general anesthesia.

We Care Dental Center also provides low-cost dental care for seniors 55 and older and veterans who have no insurance, are under-insured or are on fixed incomes.