The School of Dentistry Announces $100,000 in Funding from Delta Dental

The School of Dentistry recently received $100,000 in funding from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to increase access to community oral health care in 2023-2024. This funding made possible through the Access to Care Grants Program, will be used again this year to support patient care at UT Dentistry’s Ricardo Salinas Pediatric Dental Clinic and Laredo Dental Clinic. 

Since 2011, the Community Care Foundation has contributed more than $130 million to local community partners. The goal of these partnerships is to increase access to care, address health disparities, drive health equity and promote innovation in the oral health field.

The Ricardo Salinas Pediatric Dental Clinic is a distinctive collaboration between the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and the School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio’s Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry Program. The Laredo Dental Clinic is made possible with the partnership of the City of Laredo’s Health Department.

Maria Hernandez, a parent who has been bringing her children to the Ricardo Salinas Dental Clinic for 13 years said, “I can afford dental care for my kids at this clinic and am comfortable here and think they are doing a great job.”

With the support of this grant, the Ricardo Salinas Pediatric Dental Clinic and the Laredo Dental Clinic will continue to provide indispensable dental services in the South Texas communities they serve. Staffed by School of Dentistry pediatric dental faculty, residents, and staff, the clinics offer comprehensive dental care including preventative dentistry, emergency care, and restorative dental care to families that do not have the resources to visit private practicing dentists.

This year’s generous Delta Dental Community Care grant doubles the amount received in previous years and will be split between both clinics to support the school’s commitment to making dental care accessible for everyone, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.

For more information about our satellite community clinics, please visit UT Dentistry's Satellite Clinics webpage.

For more information about the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, please visit https://www1.deltadentalins.com/foundation.html. For more information about Delta Dental of California, please visit www.deltadentalins.com.