Dientes Community Dental Care has officially opened a new clinic in Watsonville, marking the nonprofit’s fifth location in Santa Cruz County. The grand opening event, held on October 22, 2023, attracted around 150 attendees, including community leaders and health advocates. This new facility, located at 55 Penny Lane, Suite 103, is designed to accommodate eight dental chairs and is projected to serve an additional 3,000 patients each year.
During the opening ceremony, Laura Marcus, CEO of Dientes, expressed the importance of accessible dental care. She stated, “The consequences of living without dental care are not just medical — they’re deeply human. Our new Penny Lane Clinic is more than a facility; it’s a beacon of dignity and hope.” Marcus highlighted how improved dental health can positively impact individuals’ lives, from enhancing children’s focus in school to boosting adults’ confidence during job interviews.
Dientes currently facilitates approximately 75,000 dental visits annually, focusing on underserved populations in the region. Notably, around 97% of its patients live at or below the poverty level. The organization accepts Medi-Cal and offers a sliding scale fee for uninsured patients, ensuring that financial barriers do not impede access to essential services.
Despite the establishment of new clinics, oral health challenges persist in the county. According to Dientes’ 2022 Oral Health Needs Assessment, 67% of county residents enrolled in Medi-Cal do not receive the necessary dental care. Specifically, 35,000 Medi-Cal recipients in South County alone face significant difficulties accessing dental services. These statistics do not account for uninsured families, further illustrating the critical need for accessible oral health care.
Gum disease, prevalent among those lacking access to dental care, is associated with various serious health concerns, including tooth loss, heart disease, and diabetes. In light of these issues, Marcus, along with other local nonprofit leaders, recently addressed the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to discuss potential consequences of recent state and federal budget cuts that threaten local safety net services.
She noted that adult dental care is often the first service to be reduced when budgets tighten, explaining, “We can’t do that today. Not with five clinics and 150 staff and 18,000 people needing services.” Adding to the concerns, upcoming changes to Medi-Cal in July 2024 could eliminate dental benefits for adults with an Unsatisfactory Immigration Status, impacting around 3,000 Dientes patients.
Despite these challenges, the opening of the new clinic signifies a hopeful development for the community. The facility represents an investment of nearly $2 million, funded by various organizations, including the Central California Alliance for Health, the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, and contributions from local community members, including donors from the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.
Michael Schrader, CEO of Central California Alliance for Health, emphasized the importance of this initiative. He said, “The Alliance is proud to support Dientes in expanding access to essential oral health services in South County. Too often, people delay or skip dental care because of high costs, making it the most commonly avoided type of health care. This investment helps change that.”
As Dientes Community Dental Care expands its reach, the organization remains committed to improving health equity and providing comprehensive dental care to those in need. The new Penny Lane Clinic stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to enhance the well-being of individuals and families across Watsonville and beyond.
