Apollonians Community Dentistry Fund

Bringing UCLA Dentistry to the community

The UCLA School of Dentistry’s Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE) Program is designed specifically for the unique oral and systemic health needs of underserved populations in our communities. Inadequate access to oral health care in the State of California and throughout the US persists for a variety of reasons, some of which include: maldistribution of providers throughout the state, inadequately funded health programs, patients’ lack of understanding of the importance of oral health to overall health, and difficulty in navigating the programs available to them.

The CBCE program addresses these inadequacies by allowing fourth year UCLA Dentistry students to provide treatment to underserved communities, while concurrently gaining vital experience as part of their journey towards becoming future leaders in oral health care. By traveling to partnering sites for six weeks of rotations throughout the academic year, students perform a wide array of services including patient education, cleanings, fillings, dentures, and extractions. Since the programs inception, Pediatric and Endodontic specialty residents have also begun to complete rotations, further increasing access to care for underserved communities.

The UCLA School of Dentistry covers all costs required for students participating in the program, including travel to partnering sites and housing during their rotations. Students having participated in CBCE share the program has significantly enhanced their clinical education, many of which have subsequently sought to practice in public health clinics following graduation. Additionally, partnering sites and their patients benefit from an increase in skilled treatment providers.

Your support for the Community Based Clinical Education Fund allows our students to continue providing vital care to the communities who need it most while gaining meaningful clinical experience.