Sacramento, Calif. — The California Dental Association Foundation’s volunteer dental clinic, CDA Cares, provided more than $1.6 million in charitable dental services to 1,533 people during the Oct. 26-27 event at the Modesto Centre Plaza.
During the two-day event, dentists and dental professionals provided 10,314 procedures, including fillings, extractions, cleanings and oral health education.
Nearly 1,800 volunteers donated their time and services at the event, including health professionals — dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental students, nurses and lab technicians — and hundreds of community volunteers who assisted with registration, translation, data entry and guiding patients.
In addition to providing dental services at no charge to Californians who experience barriers to care, CDA Cares educates the public and policymakers about the importance of good oral health and the need for improvements to the state’s Medi-Cal dental program.
“This clinic was a success thanks to the generosity of volunteers who donated their time and skills to help people who face barriers to care,” said CDA President Natasha Lee, DDS. “We know there’s a tremendous need in our state, and it’s so rewarding to help someone by relieving their pain and infection. We hope that continued improvements to the state’s Medi-Cal dental program will allow more people to access dental care.”
CDA Cares is made possible by new and continued support from community members and key sponsors like Global Experience Specialists, Henry Schein, Planmeca USA, Western Dental, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Memorial Modesto, Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, Stanislaus Dental Foundation, Buchler Orthodontics, City of Modesto, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Greater Modesto Dental Implant and Oral Surgery, Larell Dentures, Midmark, Modesto Rotary Club Foundation, Pierre Fauchard Oral Health Foundation and Vector Research & Development Inc.
The California Dental Association Foundation is planning another CDA Cares event to be held March 8-9, 2019, at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo. For more information, visit cdafoundation.org/cdacares.
About the California Dental Association Foundation
The CDA Foundation was formed as the philanthropic arm of the California Dental Association in 2001 with the mission to improve the oral health of all Californians by supporting the dental health profession in its efforts to meet community needs. The CDA Foundation provides grants and scholarships to dental students and professionals, promotes oral health prevention and education, and holds dental clinics around the state that provide dental care at no charge to Californians in need.
