HMN 2025: How Dental clinic brings confidence and smiles to underserved communities

When Cheryl Martinez enrolled in an dependancy restoration program final May, considered one of her first orders of enterprise was calling Ms. Darlene.

Martinez had simply spent a couple of months in jail and was despatched to a restoration middle in North County, after many years of scuffling with a drug dependancy. In the months earlier than, throughout a relapse, she had misplaced her dentures.

She knew that Darlene McCarthy, the clinic coordinator at Cura Smiles, a City Heights dental clinic where she obtained a set of dentures in 2022, would be capable to assist.

“The smile is a very powerful factor,” Martinez mentioned. “For some time … I did not really feel like I’d be capable to match into society with out (it).”

Martinez was shortly booked for an appointment on the clinic, which offers free dental care for people with out dental insurance coverage, lots of whom are low-income, in dependancy restoration or unhoused.

Cura Smiles was based in 2017, and has since steadily grown to assist tons of of shoppers like Martinez.

Earlier this yr, it obtained a lift in unrestricted grant funding for gadgets to help its work from a number of native and regional philanthropic organizations, together with new dental chairs and clinic tools.

The clinic has 4 operatories at its location throughout the Mid-City Church of the Nazarene, and is open two to 3 instances every week. Its staff of 26 volunteer dentists and 4 dental hygienists carry out a variety of companies for shoppers, from fundamental cleanings and fillings to extractions and dentures.

Cura Smiles steps in to supply such procedures for shoppers who haven’t got dental insurance coverage, or whose insurance coverage plan will not cowl sure companies. Medicare does not embody dental insurance coverage, and whereas Medi-Cal does cowl dental, it solely offers dentures as soon as each 5 years.

For shoppers like Martinez and others who’re in dependancy restoration or struggling financially, Cura Smiles could make a right away distinction.

“Our shoppers are individuals who simply have not been capable of prioritize their oral well being—and we have to, as a result of it is simply so necessary for total well-being,” mentioned Christine Passmore, the group’s govt director.

Oral illness has been linked to medical circumstances together with coronary heart illness and diabetes, and analysis has proven that marginalized communities usually undergo essentially the most from oral illness and face excessive boundaries to accessing dental care, together with prices and an absence of obtainable care in a group.

Cura Smiles works with a number of group organizations that refer shoppers to the clinic, together with the San Diego Rescue Mission and Youth Assistance Coalition.

The current monetary help has been key.

Increasing the clinic’s effectivity is extra necessary because it has grown over current years.

Cura Smiles was based in 2017 by Solana Beach dentist Thomas Fitzpatrick, who was impressed to extend entry to dental care after working in clinics in Nicaragua. The clinic formally opened in 2020.

Since then, it has accomplished $1 million value of dental companies, serving greater than 700 shoppers and finishing greater than 4,300 procedures.

Last yr, Cura Smiles served 247 sufferers and carried out $415,000 value of companies—practically double the quantity from the yr earlier than, Passmore mentioned.

The companies are solely free to shoppers.

“You have sufferers which might be very appreciative,” mentioned Ghazal Navab, one of many clinic’s volunteer dentists. “These individuals would in any other case be self-conscious if they do not have a smile, or they will be in ache … So seeing their response is superb.”

Chula Vista resident John Utreras got here to the clinic final yr together with his aged buddy, Julian, who wanted a brand new set of dentures. One day, the workers requested Utreras if he wanted any steerage for his personal enamel.

Despite his protests that he was solely there to assist his buddy, the Cura Smiles’ dentists sat Utreras down and examined his enamel, noting that his entrance two had been deteriorating.

Utreras mentioned their evaluation gave him the perception he wanted to deal with his enamel to stop additional harm or procedures.

“They went past the decision of obligation to assist,” he mentioned.

To present care, the clinic depends on volunteer dentists and hygienists, together with grant funding and donated gadgets.

Passmore says Cura Smiles’ working prices are between $180,000 and $200,000 yearly. Donations and grants are essential to protecting that.

“We know dental well being care is dear and many individuals cannot afford dental insurance coverage, particularly when there are extra urgent points like paying the lease and shopping for groceries,” mentioned Kim Koch, the inspiration’s chief working officer.

2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.