The South Dakota Dental Association aims to advance dentistry's art and science alongside promoting oral health for the public. They strive to educate on the importance of comprehensive preventive and restorative dental care facilitated by a unified dental healthcare team, ensuring the practice's vitality and the well-being of its members. The South Dakota Dental Foundation focuses on enhancing the oral health of all South Dakotans through professional education, public awareness, support for future dental workforce development, and aid to those with dental needs, operating as a charitable arm under a 501(c)(3) status to support the broader community.
The South Dakota Dental Foundation Grants are designed to support various initiatives that contribute to the improvement of oral health and the dental profession within South Dakota. Their funding priorities include: supporting dental health projects targeting underserved communities, providing scholarships and support for dental and auxiliary students, facilitating dental education programs for both dental professionals and the public, promoting continuing education and professional ethics within the dental field, and aiding in the recruitment of dentists and dental students to the state. These grants are a critical resource for advancing dental health initiatives and education within South Dakota.