Smile LA: Free Dental Clinics for LA’s Kids

Health care access

City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) Central LA East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley West LA San Fernando Valley Gateway Cities South Bay Antelope Valley Long Beach County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Dental disease is the most pervasive untreated health issue among U.S. children and a leading cause of missed school, leading to reduced academic performance and reduced job opportunities in later life. Yet dental care remains the most unaffordable form of healthcare. In LA County, foster youth, children in poverty, and survivors of trafficking face the greatest barriers to dental care. Nearly 50% of low-income children in LA experience dental disease, and far too many go without treatment. Over 80% of our patients require dental reconstruction, with Black and Latinx children disproportionately represented, compounding systemic inequities and highlighting the critical need within our community. When treated early, dental issues are highly preventable, and resolving them gives children a better chance to focus in school, feel confident, and thrive. These are urgent but solvable issues. Giving A Smile Foundation was created to bridge this gap, now.

Giving A Smile Foundation has delivered over $3.5 million in free dental care to more than 3,500 youth across LA County. In partnership with UCLA’s School of Dentistry, we develop, fund, and operate free dental clinics and educational workshops. Patients are referred through schools, community organizations, and partners like the Department of Children and Family Services.
Many of the youth we serve come from trauma, so we create a welcoming and caring environment; one where they receive high-quality treatment and enjoy the experience. They return home with essential oral health knowledge they often share with siblings and parents, helping reduce long-term disease across entire families. To meet growing demand from foster youth, low-income families, and trafficking survivors, we are actively expanding our services. Over 80% of our patients require advanced procedures. We fill a critical gap for them, offering cleanings, X-rays, fillings, prosthetic restorations, and even full mouth reconstruction.
Our unique model combines top-tier care with community referrals, volunteer providers, and clinical training for UCLA dental students. We address a pressing public health issue, elevate standards of care often missing in public systems, and help shape a future dental workforce rooted in service. As we scale, we are laying the groundwork for our long-term vision: LA’s first permanent, free dental center for youth, ensuring equitable access to quality care for generations to come.

This project will transform access to oral healthcare for LA’s most underserved youth. Short term: we’ll provide free dental care to 500 youth, addressing urgent oral health needs before they escalate. Families will gain preventive tools that support long-term well-being and reduce future disease across households.
Outcomes include earlier intervention for dental infection, access for kids who fall through the cracks, and reduction in untreated disease across LA. Our education programs build lifelong health habits, while our local presence deepens community trust.
Long term: Through this expansion, by growing our network of volunteers, providers, and referral partners, we’re proving our model scales. We are building the operational backbone needed for LA’s first permanent, free dental center for youth to be open in the next 5 years. This is the first step toward a future where high-quality, compassionate dental care is no longer a privilege, but a right for every child in LA.