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San Antonio
Christian
Dental Clinic, Inc.
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Our History |
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 As
we enter our twenty-first year, our purpose is to
provide charitable dental care to those adults in
San Antonio who have no other means with which to
secure dental services.
Our program provides treatment as well as education
so that a patient shows continued improvement in
oral health as well as in general health and
well-being. This care is offered in a Christian
environment. We believe the unique nature of our
history and mission is aligned with an expressed
desire to improve the health of those who do not
have access to proper dental care.
Nearly 45% of our clients are elderly and over 25%
are disabled--all are economically disadvantaged.
Prior to 1986, a group of concerned individuals
found that there was a great need for dental care
for the indigent in San Antonio. Founding directors
Orvis Meador, DDS, Vicky LePere, John Shaw, Rev.
Louis Zbinden, and others sought to fill this need,
offering services with a single dental chair in
Victoria Courts. As the need grew, space was made
available in a building owned by First Baptist
Church, and with financial support from First
Presbyterian Church, an alliance was born and the
San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic was incorporated
as a 501(c)3 organization.
Over twenty years and with two expansions, the
clinic now operates a state of the art facility
offering a wide range of services. With only five
full-time and four part-time employees and staffed
by nearly 100 volunteers, the clinic provided 20,438
patient visits in 2006 and it is on target for
approximately 22,000 in 2007.
The clinic provides a wide range of dental services,
including x-rays, examinations, treatment and
education. Once financially qualified, patients may
access care for up to a year.
Beginning in December 2008, the San Antonio
Christian Dental Clinic will provide dental services
at the Haven for Hope homeless transformational
campus, with sixteen operatories. This will be the
beginning of a major expansion of our capacity to
serve, not only the homeless, but the community at
large. |
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©2008
sachristiandental.org |
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