About the awarded grant

Delta Dental Community Care Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to El Centro de Corazón to support its dental program which is aimed at improving oral health outcomes for low-income, uninsured/underinsured in Houston’s East End. El Centro’s program will provide comprehensive dental services, which includes regular preventive care, early diagnosis, and treatment to address tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other dental conditions to over 3,000 low-income children and adults.

Additionally, the grants will allow El Centro to enhance preventive oral health care by funding a portion of the salary of El Centro’s bilingual Dental Home Patient Care Coordinator (PCC). The PCC will ensure compassionate, family-centered, and coordinated care for underserved children through its pediatric Dental Home, while also increasing oral health education, awareness and outreach to its patients and the community.

 About El Centro’s Dental Home Program

Through its Dental Home program, El Centro addresses the oral health needs of underserved children in a family-centered environment at its Magnolia, Eastwood, and John S. Dunn Health Center. El Centro’s Dental Home goal is to improve oral health outcomes for infants, children and teens through high quality preventive and restorative services in a child-friendly environment so that children develop a positive attitude toward dental treatments and their oral health.

First dental home exams, cleanings and fluoride varnish are provided for infants, starting at six months of age, while parents are educated about proper pediatric oral health hygiene and diet during CenteringParenting® group well-child visits. El Centro also provides oral health education for expectant women and emphasizes early childhood dental care for children through its CenteringPregnancy® prenatal groups.