Dental Affinity Program

Program Description

The Dental Affinity Program is a partnership between Dientes Community Dental Care, Salud Para La Gente, the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, and members of the Monterey Bay Dental Society. These partners are working together to expand upon Dientes’ successful Dental Affinity Program to reach low-income, uninsured patients in need throughout Santa Cruz County.

The goal of the Dental Affinity Program is to help connect low-income uninsured adults with access to quality, affordable dental care. Local dentists who volunteer to be Dental Affinity Program partners provide pro bono dental care to low-income patients who lack insurance and have complex dental needs. These services are free of charge to the patient with the exception of lab fees.

Patients are carefully screened at Dientes Community Dental Care and Salud Para La Gente before being referred to volunteer providers. These providers see patients in their office for the period of time required to complete the dental treatment plan and then redirect clients back to the referring clinic for their on-going routine care.

Volunteer Opportunities for Area Dentists

The Dental Affinity Program needs the help of local dentists willing to donate their time to provide pro bono dental care to low-income Santa Cruz County adults without health insurance. Dental volunteers have the option to accept referral calls only when it is convenient for them and their staff.  Care will be taken to rotate referrals among all volunteer dentists to ensure that no individual provider is overburdened. The Dental Affinity Program will be publicized through various media outlets and participating volunteers will be recognized publicly for their generous in-kind contributions.

Dentists interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with the Dental Affinity Program should contact Dientes Community Dental Care at (831) 464-5422 or Salud Para La Gente at (831) 763-3413.  Potential volunteers can also complete the downloadable volunteer application.

PVCHT Lab Fee Reimbursement

The Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust (Trust) has a limited fund available to help offset some of the cost of lab fees for Dental Affinity Program patients that reside in the Trust’s primary service area.  The Trust’s primary service area consists of three zip codes: 95076, 95019, and 95004.  The communities within this service area include Watsonville, Pajaro, Freedom, and Aromas.

In order to receive reimbursement from the Trust, the patient is responsible for paying at least $50 of the total lab fees.  The Trust will then pay the remainder up to $500.  If the lab fees exceed $550, it is either the patient’s or the provider’s responsibility to pay the remaining amount.  The handling of this outstanding balance should be worked out between the provider and the patient. 

To receive reimbursement from the Trust, volunteers must submit the Lab Fee Reimbursement form along with a copy of the original lab invoice.