Effective Date: 10/21/2026 | Last Updated: 10/21/2026

Welcome to the Dental Equity Project website (“Website”). Dental Equity Project (“Dental Equity Project,” “DEP,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a California nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals access essential restorative dental care and restorations. By accessing or using this Website, submitting an application, contacting us, volunteering, partnering with us, donating, or otherwise using our services or resources, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms & Conditions (“Terms”). If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the Website.

ABOUT DENTAL EQUITY PROJECT

Dental Equity Project is a California nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals access essential restorative dental care and restorations. DEP may provide or facilitate donated or reduced-cost dental restorations, materials, laboratory services, or other forms of assistance through relationships with participating dental professionals, dental laboratories, organizations, and volunteers. DEP does not guarantee that assistance will be available to every applicant or that an applicant will receive a particular restoration, treatment, material, laboratory service, or other benefit. Assistance is subject to eligibility, available resources, participating providers, clinical circumstances, and other factors.

DENTAL EQUITY PROJECT IS NOT A DENTAL PROVIDER

Dental Equity Project is not a dental office and does not provide direct clinical dental treatment unless specifically stated otherwise. DEP does not diagnose dental conditions, prescribe treatment, perform dental procedures, provide medical or dental advice, or establish a doctor-patient relationship through this Website. Clinical treatment is provided by independently licensed dental professionals. Any dentist, dental office, dental laboratory, technician, specialist, or other healthcare professional participating with DEP remains responsible for the services they independently provide within the scope of their professional license and applicable law.

NO DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP

Use of this Website, submission of an application, communication with DEP, or participation in a DEP program does not create a dentist-patient, doctor-patient, healthcare-provider, fiduciary, or other professional relationship between you and DEP. Any professional relationship concerning dental treatment is established separately between the individual receiving care and the appropriately licensed dental professional providing that care.

DENTAL TREATMENT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TREATING DENTIST

The treating dentist is responsible for evaluating the patient's dental condition, determining an appropriate treatment plan, obtaining appropriate patient consent, performing or coordinating clinical treatment, and providing appropriate follow-up care. DEP does not determine whether a particular dental treatment is clinically appropriate for an individual. DEP may rely on information provided by applicants, dentists, dental offices, laboratories, or other participating parties but does not independently verify every clinical or personal detail submitted.

APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE

Individuals seeking assistance may submit an application through the Website or through another process designated by DEP. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance or assistance. Applicants are responsible for providing information that is truthful, accurate, and complete to the best of their knowledge. DEP may request additional information or documentation when reasonably necessary to evaluate an application. DEP may contact the applicant, treating dentist, dental office, dental laboratory, or other relevant parties for information necessary to evaluate or coordinate an application, subject to applicable privacy requirements and any required authorization.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the particular DEP program. Generally, applicants may be considered for assistance when they:

■ Need restorative dental treatment

■ Are experiencing circumstances that make it difficult to access the restoration they need

■ Have a dentist who is willing and able to provide the necessary clinical treatment

Meeting these general criteria does not guarantee assistance. DEP may consider available resources, the nature of the requested restoration, clinical information supplied by the treating dentist, program requirements, geographic limitations, participating providers, and other relevant circumstances. DEP reserves the right to establish, modify, or discontinue eligibility requirements and programs as circumstances and available resources change.

APPLICATION REVIEW

DEP will review submitted applications based on the information available to the organization and the requirements of the applicable program. DEP may contact an applicant for clarification or additional information. DEP may also communicate with the applicant's treating dentist or dental office when appropriate and authorized. If an application is not approved, DEP is not required to provide a detailed explanation unless otherwise required by law or a specific program policy. DEP does not guarantee a specific review or response time.

ASSISTANCE IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

All assistance provided by DEP is subject to available resources and participating providers. Available assistance may include:

■ Donated dental restorations

■ Reduced-cost dental laboratory services

■ Donated or reduced-cost dental materials

■ Laboratory support

■ Assistance coordinated through participating dental professionals

■ Other assistance determined by DEP

DEP does not guarantee that it will be able to provide a particular product, material, laboratory, restoration, treatment, or service.

CLINICAL TREATMENT

The applicant's treating dentist remains responsible for the clinical aspects of the patient's care. The treating dentist is responsible for diagnosis and treatment planning; determining whether the patient is clinically appropriate for treatment; obtaining informed consent; preparing the patient for treatment; performing clinical procedures; placement and delivery of restorations; monitoring the patient's condition; providing appropriate follow-up care; and addressing complications or treatment-related concerns. DEP does not guarantee the clinical outcome of any treatment.

DENTAL RESTORATIONS AND LABORATORY SERVICES

When DEP coordinates donated or reduced-cost restorations or laboratory services, the participating dental laboratory or provider is responsible for the laboratory work or services it performs. Restorations may be fabricated using materials, techniques, and laboratory processes determined by the participating dental laboratory and the treating dentist. DEP does not guarantee a particular material, brand, shade, design, laboratory, technician, or fabrication method unless expressly agreed upon for a specific case. Clinical acceptance and use of a restoration remain the responsibility of the treating dentist.

TREATMENT CHANGES OR CANCELLATION

Treatment plans may change based on clinical findings, patient circumstances, laboratory requirements, or other factors. DEP may discontinue or modify assistance before treatment is completed when circumstances require it, including changes in eligibility, availability of resources, inability to coordinate treatment, or withdrawal of a participating provider. A dentist may determine that the originally proposed treatment is no longer clinically appropriate.

FOLLOW-UP AND COMPLICATIONS

Dental treatment may involve risks, complications, adjustments, repairs, replacements, or additional treatment. Applicants and patients should communicate directly with their treating dental professional regarding clinical concerns, complications, discomfort, or questions about treatment. DEP does not guarantee that a restoration will last for a particular period of time or that additional treatment will not be necessary. Any warranty or guarantee concerning a particular dental restoration or laboratory service, if applicable, is determined by the treating dental professional or dental laboratory and is separate from DEP's assistance program.

EMERGENCIES

The Website and DEP's application process are not intended for dental or medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a dental or medical emergency, contact a licensed healthcare professional, emergency dental provider, or emergency services as appropriate. Examples of potentially urgent symptoms may include significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, serious injury, or severe or rapidly worsening pain.

INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE WEBSITE

Information on this Website is provided for general informational and educational purposes. Although DEP makes reasonable efforts to provide accurate information, we do not warrant that all Website content is complete, current, or error-free. Information on the Website should not be interpreted as individualized dental, medical, legal, financial, or other professional advice. You should consult an appropriately qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances.

EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

DEP may publish educational materials, articles, case studies, photographs, videos, presentations, or other information relating to oral health, restorative dentistry, dental technology, or community programs. Educational content is intended for general informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional dental or medical advice. Clinical outcomes vary from person to person.

CASE STUDIES, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND STORIES

DEP may share patient stories, photographs, videos, treatment information, testimonials, or case studies for educational, informational, fundraising, or organizational purposes only when appropriate authorization or another lawful basis for use has been obtained. Participation in a DEP program does not automatically authorize the public use of an individual's name, photograph, medical information, dental records, testimonial, or story. Separate consent or authorization may be requested when required.

PRIVACY

Your use of the Website is also subject to our Privacy Policy. Please review the Privacy Policy to understand how information submitted through the Website may be collected, used, disclosed, stored, and protected. Applicants should avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive personal information through general Website forms.

PATIENT AND HEALTH INFORMATION

Individuals should provide only the information reasonably requested as part of an application or program process. Where DEP receives health, dental, or other sensitive information, DEP will handle such information in accordance with applicable law and its applicable privacy practices. DEP is not necessarily a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate for every activity it performs. HIPAA obligations depend on the specific parties, services, and circumstances involved. Where HIPAA or other privacy laws apply, the parties will comply with their respective legal obligations.

COMMUNICATION WITH DENTISTS AND PARTNERS

When an applicant authorizes DEP to communicate with their treating dentist or other participating professional, DEP may exchange information reasonably necessary to evaluate or coordinate assistance. Applicants should understand that communications involving third-party dental offices, providers, laboratories, or other organizations may also be subject to those parties' own privacy policies and legal obligations.

VOLUNTEERS AND PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONALS

DEP may work with volunteer dentists, dental professionals, laboratories, technicians, students, organizations, and community volunteers. Volunteers and participating organizations may operate independently and may have their own policies, procedures, professional obligations, and legal responsibilities. Participation with DEP does not make an individual or organization an employee, agent, partner, joint venturer, or representative of DEP unless expressly established in writing.

DONATIONS

Donations made through the Website or an affiliated donation platform are voluntary contributions to support DEP's charitable mission. Unless otherwise expressly stated, donations are not payment for a particular applicant's treatment, restoration, or service. DEP may use donated funds in accordance with its charitable purposes and applicable law. Donations may be processed through third-party payment providers. Those providers may have their own terms, privacy policies, and processing requirements.

DONATION REFUNDS

Donation refund requests will be considered in accordance with DEP's applicable donation and refund policies and the requirements of the payment platform used to process the donation. If a donation was made in error or requires correction, donors should contact DEP promptly.

THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES AND SERVICES

The Website may contain links to third-party websites, services, payment processors, dental resources, social media platforms, or other external websites. DEP does not control and is not responsible for the content, availability, security, privacy practices, or terms of third-party websites. Accessing third-party websites is at the user's own discretion and subject to the third party's applicable terms and policies.

WEBSITE AVAILABILITY

DEP strives to maintain the Website, but we do not guarantee that the Website will always be available, uninterrupted, secure, or free from errors. The Website may occasionally be unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues, updates, security matters, or circumstances beyond DEP's control.

PROHIBITED USE

You agree not to use the Website to:

■ Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information

■ Impersonate another person or organization

■ Submit an application on behalf of another person without appropriate authorization

■ Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Website or its systems

■ Introduce malicious code, viruses, or other harmful material

■ Interfere with the operation or security of the Website

■ Scrape, copy, reproduce, or commercially exploit Website content without authorization

■ Use the Website for unlawful purposes

■ Engage in conduct that could harm DEP, its applicants, volunteers, partners, or other users

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Unless otherwise stated, content appearing on the Website, including the Dental Equity Project name, logos, branding, text, graphics, photographs, videos, educational materials, and other original content, is owned by or licensed to DEP. You may view and use Website content for personal, informational, and noncommercial purposes. You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, publish, sell, or commercially exploit DEP's copyrighted or trademarked materials without prior written permission, except where permitted by law.

USER-SUBMITTED CONTENT

If you voluntarily submit comments, testimonials, photographs, stories, or other content to DEP, you represent that you have the right to provide that content. DEP will not publicly use personally identifiable patient information or sensitive information for promotional purposes without appropriate authorization or another lawful basis where required. Any separate release or consent provided for a specific submission will govern the permitted use of that submission.

DISCLAIMERS

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Website and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. DEP does not guarantee that every applicant will receive assistance; that assistance will be available at all times; that a particular restoration or material will be available; that a particular dentist, dental laboratory, or provider will participate; that treatment will produce a particular clinical result; that a restoration will last for a particular period; that Website information will always be complete or current; or that the Website will be uninterrupted or error-free. Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude any rights or protections that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable law.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Dental Equity Project and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives, and agents will not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or related to use of the Website or participation in a DEP program, except to the extent such limitation is prohibited by law. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot legally be limited or waived.

INDEMNIFICATION

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dental Equity Project and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, and representatives from claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of your unlawful use of the Website, violation of these Terms, or submission of false or unauthorized information. This provision does not require you to indemnify DEP for matters that cannot legally be shifted to you under applicable law.

NO WAIVER

If DEP does not immediately enforce a provision of these Terms, that does not mean DEP has waived its right to enforce that provision in the future.

SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

DEP may update these Terms from time to time. When changes are made, the updated Terms will be posted on this Website with a revised “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Website after updated Terms are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

GOVERNING LAW

These Terms will be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where applicable law requires otherwise. Any dispute arising from these Terms or use of the Website will be subject to the applicable courts and laws governing the dispute.

ACCESSIBILITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION

Dental Equity Project is committed to treating applicants, patients, volunteers, donors, and community members with dignity and respect. DEP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or other status protected by applicable law. DEP seeks to make its programs and Website accessible and welcoming to the communities it serves.

CONTACT US

Dental Equity Project By using this Website or participating in a Dental Equity Project program, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review these Terms & Conditions.