Community Programs

School-based screenings for children

Sonrisas provides free dental screenings to over 4,000 children in schools every school year. Students also receive age-appropriate oral health education. Families receive screening results, and for children identified with urgent needs, connections to a dental home.

Oral health coaching and care navigation for older adults

200+ older adults receive basic health check-ups, dental screenings, personalized oral health coaching, and care navigation at community centers and residential facilities. With no dental benefit in traditional Medicare, seniors increasingly face nutritional deficits and social isolations stemming from their oral health.

Community Health Worker (CHW) service

Among the first community dental organizations to credential a CHW, Sonrisas CHWs amplify our impact by providing whole-family customized health coaching, culturally inclusive education, effective care navigation, and collaborative community engagement.

Oral health education for our community

Health education is a vital part of promoting healthy practices for underserved families and individuals. Sonrisas provides education, resources, and presentations to diverse stakeholder groups and partners.

Serving children and adolescents with special needs

This pilot works with children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) who often react to medical settings with heightened sensitivity. Trained professionals familiarize and desensitize them to medical equipment and settings at environments familiar to them, like special education (SPED) and other specially designated programs.

Preparing the next generation of providers

Students and early career professionals (both dental and medical) in Sonrisas’ Interns and Fellows program are introduced to community dentistry at an early stage of their education and career, providing them with valuable insight into care for underserved communities.

In addition to our work in the community, Sonrisas operates 3 clinics throughout San Mateo County providing a range of clinical dentistry services to those facing barriers to accessing care.