Pasadena Nonprofit Young & Healthy Sponsors Free Mobile Dental Clinic for Children

Young & Healthy, in collaboration with USC’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, will  be sponsoring a free dental clinic for children aged 5 to 18 in the greater Pasadena area starting on Thursday, Feb. 22. 

The annual Mobile Dental Clinic will be held at Blair High School, located at 1201 S. Marengo Ave., up to Feb. 29.

A signature initiative of Young & Healthy, the Mobile Dental Clinic provides free essential dental services to local children who lack dental insurance coverage. Services include diagnostic procedures such as X-rays, preventative treatments like fluoride applications and scaling, and restorative and surgical interventions including fillings, pulpotomies, crowns, root planing, and extractions.

Young & Healthy Executive Director Ellen Kramer said the program is now in its 30th year. To be eligible, children must be aged 5 to 18 years old and live in Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, or South Pasadena. Their parent or guardian must commit to several appointments during the week of the clinic.

“There is a population of local underserved children and their families who find it hard to obtain dental care, due to cost or lack of coverage,” Kramer said. “Working with USC to host these clinics will impact the lives of these children greatly. Having healthy teeth is a gateway to long-term physical health – not to mention that there is a link between healthy teeth and academic success. Our goal has always been that children should be able to grow up healthy and thrive.” 

A limited number of appointments will be available so advanced registration is required. No walk-in clients can be accommodated. Parents can determine eligibility and schedule appointments by calling Young & Healthy at (626) 795-5166 Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

All services provided at the Mobile Dental Clinic are offered at no cost to families. To cover operational expenses, Young & Healthy relies on funds raised from private donors, local foundations, and other sources that support this essential community service.

Young & Healthy is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ensuring that low-income school children in greater Pasadena have access to high-quality healthcare. It has a network of over 350 volunteer healthcare professionals providing comprehensive services, including insurance enrollment, tax preparation, and trauma-responsiveness training for families and community partners.

For more information, visit www.yhpasadena.org.