Texas Smiles Dental Center of San Antonio Celebrates Grand Opening

Elected officials and community leaders welcome dental health provider committed to children from low-income families

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Texas Smiles today hosted a grand opening celebration and free dental screening event at a new center that is providing high-quality, professional dental care in the San Antonio area for thousands of children from low-income families.

“We are excited to open our doors to children, their parents, elected officials and community leaders,” said Dr. Yolanda Allen, Lead Dentist at Texas Smiles. “At Texas Smiles, we believe that children from low-income families deserve the same quality of dental care as those in affluent communities. We are proud of our commitment to children’s dental health and we look forward to contributing to the life-long oral health of San Antonio’s kids.”

Across Bexar County more than 200,000 children are eligible for dental care through Medicaid or CHIP, but fewer than one in four dentists accept their insurance. Texas Smiles is one of only a few dental care providers who accept patients covered by Medicaid. It is estimated that nationwide fewer than one in four dentists receive Medicaid patients, exacerbating low-income communities’ challenges with poor dental health, which the U.S. Surgeon General has called a “silent epidemic.”

“I am pleased that San Antonio is now home to Texas Smiles Dental Center," said Representative Joaquin Castro, State Representative for House District 125. "The dentists and caregivers at Texas Smiles will play a vital role in safeguarding the dental health of children from low-income families in our community and help ensure that every child has the healthy smile they deserve.”

According to the Surgeon General, chronic tooth decay is the most prevalent childhood disease in America, affecting five times more children than asthma. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics indicate that 68 percent of children have decay in their permanent teeth. According to the General Accountability Office (GAO), only 25 percent of low-income children nationwide receive adequate dental care. As a result, tooth decay is twice as prevalent in children from low-income families as it is in children from more affluent households.

“Oral health is about more than tooth decay,” said Allen. “Poor dental health in young children can lead to a variety of other health and developmental challenges including chronic pain, poor nutrition, distraction from learning and other activities, and self-confidence and self-esteem issues that arise from a having a less-than-perfect smile. All kids deserve a great smile.”

Texas Smiles Dental Center of San Antonio is located at 4847 West Commerce St in San Antonio. Parents who are interested in scheduling an appointment for their child are encouraged to call (210) 432-2110.



CONTACT:

for Texas Smiles Dental Centers
Amanda Keating, 202-441-5332

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Dental  Hospitals  Other Health  Children  Parenting  Teens  Consumer  Family  General Health

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