Mobile and satellite dental care

One goal of the School of Dentistry is to provide community-based services with a focus on South Texas. We offer dental care in places where dental care is scarce, called Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. We are proud of our Dental Education Outreach Network, which places faculty-supervised student practitioners in clinics, at hospitals, schools, in a mobile van and other settings. Various initiatives have come together to provide education and patient care to areas beyond the UT Health San Antonio campus.

School-based education and care

Students from the School of Dentistry, supervised by faculty, teach children at schools throughout South Texas about oral hygiene and provide dental sealants to the teeth of children whose parents have agreed to allow this preventive measure against cavities.

Pediatric satellite clinics

Students and faculty are based at the Ricardo Salinas Pediatric Dental Clinic on San Antonio's west side, at the Laredo Dental Clinic and at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio, in addition to the Pediatric Clinic at the UT Health San Antonio Center for Oral Health Care and Research.

Region 11 Medicaid Mobile Dental Program

Part of the Texas Dental Medicaid Initiative, the UT Health San Antonio Mobile Dental Clinics are based in Laredo, Texas, and travel to various rural areas to provide comprehensive care to children who are either participating in Medicaid or are Medicaid-eligible. We serve children from birth to age 21. The van spends two days a week in one location, then moves to another location, following a schedule for follow-up care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (956) 229-9830.