The lobby of the Wilshire Bank in L.A.’s Koreatown was transformed into a giant dental examination room on Saturday, Oct. 17, when nearly 250 adults and children from the low-income community received free check-ups from more than 75 student dentists, residents, other trainees and faculty from the UCLA School of Dentistry.
For many of those examined, this was their first visit to a dentist in years. One week later, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 145 of the patients were seen at several of the dental school's Westwood clinics for follow-up treatment, including radiographs, regular and deep cleanings, extractions, biopsies, fillings, root canal treatments, pediatric dental care and long-term treatment planning.
UCLA Dentistry’s annual free screening and treatment days are the result of a five-year partnership with the Wilshire Bank that the school established in 2013 and will continue through 2017. The screening days take place at various bank branches across Los Angeles, with a goal of reaching people who are underserved and don’t regularly see a dentist.
“This year was our most successful year yet in the number of people that were screened,” said Dr. Paulo Camargo, associate dean for clinical dental sciences. “So far over the three years of the partnership with the Wilshire Bank, we have been able to screen a total of more than 500 individuals and provided over 350 people with actual treatment. Through this program, we are fulfilling our mission to improve the oral and systemic health of the people of California.”
Click here to learn more about UCLA’s dental clinics, which provide high quality dental service at affordable fees for patients of all ages.
