Oral Health

We often get asked why we work to meet dental needs. Below are some of the reasons we do what we do.

Why Oral Care?

Health and Employment

The fact is that while dental disease is easily treated and prevented, poor dental health has the potential to threaten nutrition, speech, and general health. Visible decay can erode self-confidence, personal interactions, and have a huge effect on employment options.

High Cost

Across the country, an estimated 130 million Americans lack dental insurance. Challenges, including the high cost of insurance and a lack of low-cost services, affect low-income families and Hispanics disproportionately.

Lack of Access

Locally, less than half of Bexar County residents reported seeing a dentist in the past year. The need has worsened because Bexar County and other neighboring counties are found in medical deserts where the dentist to patient ratio is 0-25% of the national average.

Point in Time

For three consecutive years, San Antonio’s homeless population cited dental care as their highest need and statewide, only about 14% reported receiving the dental care they needed.

Point in Time

For three consecutive years, San Antonio’s homeless population cited dental care as their highest need and statewide, only about 14% reported receiving the dental care they needed.

Lost Work

San Antonio loses close to 960,000 hours of work each year from employesss due to the pain of untreated dental decay.

Lost Work

San Antonio loses close to 960,000 hours of work each year from employesss due to the pain of untreated dental decay.

Untreated Needs

Tooth decay is one of the country’s most chronic health challenges even though dental disease is easily prevented and treated through access to ordinary, routine care. For homeless or low-income adults, a dental visit may translate to loss of day wages, missed school, a day’s meals or significant costs like transportation or childcare.

Untreated Needs

Tooth decay is one of the country’s most chronic health challenges even though dental disease is easily prevented and treated through access to ordinary, routine care. For homeless or low-income adults, a dental visit may translate to loss of day wages, missed school, a day’s meals or significant costs like transportation or childcare.

Chronic Costs

The goal of preventive care is to stay healthy. The idea is to nip disease and associated costs in the bud before they become catastrophic. Preventive care helps patients avoid or minimize costly procedures such as dentures, surgery, extractions, or root canals.

Chronic Costs

The goal of preventive care is to stay healthy. The idea is to nip disease and associated costs in the bud before they become catastrophic. Preventive care helps patients avoid or minimize costly procedures such as dentures, surgery, extractions, or root canals.

Contact Us

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Phone

(210) 220-2300

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Address

1 Haven for Hope Way Building 1 Suite 400
San Antonio, TX 78207