About Us:

Mission Statement

The UCSD Pre-Dental Society and Student-Run Free Dental Clinic Project, in partnership with the community, provide accessible, quality healthcare for the underserved in a respectful environment in which students, health professionals, patients, and community members learn from one another.

Commitment to Education:

Many primary and secondary educational systems fail to promote occupations in dentistry, and are not familiar with the requirements of pursuing such an occupation. We at the UCSD PDS and UCSD FDC combat these important deficiencies on all levels. Our program exposes students to all aspects of the dental profession. Participants interact with volunteer dentists, hygienists, and other dental professionals constantly. They witness and participate in procedures and techniques performed at our outreach facilities. Students are also trained in various dental techniques that prepare them for real-life scenarios. Perhaps most importantly, students realize the importance and fulfillment of volunteering their future professional services to the underserved. Exposures to such experiences at our clinics have positively affected the lives of many students.

Additional education with regard to opportunities within the dental profession is provided every Thursday night in the form of special speaker sessions. These sessions, facilitated by students and advisors alike, provide the opportunity for undergraduate students to personally meet and converse with professionals within the dental field. Such special speakers include Deans of graduate dental programs, dental specialists from the community, and others who have unique insight and experience that can guide young students down their desired career paths.

The students involved with this tremendous project have various future plans to facilitate outreach programs that will educate young men and women about career options in dentistry. One such goal is to involve and inspire students from the high school level, opening the doors of possibility into a profession in dentistry. Involving high school counselors is a very important catalyst to such a goal, one to which our undergraduate students are looking forward.

 

Commitment to the Community:

The UCSD Student-Run Free Dental Clinics play an important role in offering health care and providing an avenue for access-to-care to those who are low income, uninsured, and homeless. A team of volunteering pre-dental students, general dentists, and specialists provide comprehensive care to patients and improve their overall health and self-esteem.

Since the dental clinics operate with limited resources and are overwhelmed with patients at this time, we are not accepting new patients. We can help you access other sources of dental care in San Diego area.