Orange County’s $12 million funding brings dentists to school

Orange County Expands In-School Dental Care with $12.2M Grant

In a bold step to tackle childhood tooth decay and improve access to preventive dental care, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County has secured $12.2 million in funding from the California Department of Health Care Services. This transformative investment aims to dramatically expand dental care services directly within local schools—making it easier than ever for children to get treated without ever leaving campus.

Fighting Tooth Decay, One Classroom at a Time

Tooth decay remains the leading chronic childhood condition in the U.S., responsible for over 51 million lost school hours annually. To address this, the initiative will empower children to receive dental exams and cleanings right in their school buildings—often just steps away from their classrooms. What once required time-consuming visits to a clinic can now happen within a school day, without disrupting education.

As part of the program, 10-year-old Genesis Garcia recently left her math class for a quick dental visit in a nearby room. She returned to class with a goody bag filled with oral health supplies—and a two-minute brushing timer. Within 48 hours, a pediatric dentist from Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County reviewed her X-rays and images to determine whether further treatment was needed. Her parents were also notified of the findings.

Expanding Reach Through Teledentistry

Thanks to this new grant, the nonprofit Healthy Smiles plans to expand its teledentistry program from 3 to 80 schools across Anaheim, Santa Ana, and other Orange County districts. This model allows trained dental staff to conduct exams on-site while pediatric dentists remotely evaluate the results. It also helps community clinics acquire the necessary equipment and training for these virtual dental appointments.

Despite concerns about students missing class for checkups, experts emphasize the long-term benefits. Dr. Richard Mungo, a pediatric dentist and co-founder of Healthy Smiles, points out that skipping a few minutes of class for a preventive cleaning is far better than missing multiple days due to severe dental pain or infections.

“Missing 45 minutes now beats being out for days with an abscess,” Dr. Mungo said. “Preventive care now means fewer disruptions later.”

Addressing Dental Inequality

In Orange County, one in three children suffers from untreated dental decay, and 10% of children nationally have never seen a dentist. Many of these kids come from low-income households and are enrolled in Denti-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid dental coverage. With parental permission, students enrolled in Denti-Cal can receive dental care at school at no cost to their families.

At Danbrook Elementary, around one-third of students are already participating—and many of them require follow-up restorative care, provided at Healthy Smiles’ clinic in Garden Grove. But with regular checkups and cleanings, that number is expected to decline over time.

The Future of In-School Dental Care

Dr. Paul Glassman, director of community oral health at the University of the Pacific, has been instrumental in shaping this model. His research shows that hygienists providing regular care within schools can keep up to two-thirds of children cavity-free—without needing to step foot in a traditional dental office.

He also emphasizes that this approach could solve a deeper systemic problem: low insurance reimbursement rates that often discourage dentists from treating Denti-Cal patients.

“This model changes the game,” Dr. Glassman said. “You have dentists who won’t treat Denti-Cal patients in private clinics but are now participating through this school-based system. I believe within 20 years, school-based teledentistry will be a cornerstone of public dental health in America.”

A Healthier Smile, A Brighter Future

By bringing dentists to schools and embracing innovative delivery methods, Orange County is leading the way in preventive pediatric oral health. The $12.2 million investment is not just about teeth—it’s about keeping children healthy, pain-free, and present in the classroom.

As this model scales up, it could become a national example of how dental care can be both accessible and equitable—starting with the youngest members of our communities.