Above: Christina Oh, president of Sutter Health’s Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division, John Mascali, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Dr. Joe Whitehouse cut the ribbon to officially open the club’s Free Dental Clinic.

By Clayton Warren and Monique Binkley Smith, Vitals contributors

Community leaders, families and partners were all smiles as they gathered in East Oakland to celebrate a major step forward for children’s health: the opening of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland’s new Free Dental Clinic. Supported in part by a community health investment from Sutter Health, the clinic expands access to high‑quality, no‑cost oral health care for local youth and families who need it most.

The celebration included a ribbon‑cutting ceremony with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee at the Anna Marie Whalen Clubhouse in East Oakland, marking the first Boys & Girls Clubs of America dental clinic in California. Designed to bring no‑cost, high‑quality dental care directly into the community, the clinic aims to remove barriers for children, teens and their families.

In its first year, the clinic expects to serve more than 600 youth, eventually scaling to treat more than 3,200 patients annually as operations expand — helping close care gaps for families who face financial and logistical barriers to accessing dental care. The program will also extend to the families of youth club members so the whole family can receive care in one place.

“Opening this clinic is about more than healthy smiles; it’s about dignity, confidence and giving every child the chance to show up at school and in life without pain holding them back,” said John Mascali, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. “This clinic is our promise that Oakland’s kids deserve world-class care, close to where they live and learn.”

Underscoring Sutter’s continued commitment to community partnerships that advance healthier outcomes for all, Christina Oh, president of Sutter Health’s Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division, said, “This clinic represents exactly what community partnership should look like — meeting families where they are, removing barriers to care and building healthier futures together.”

A Collaboration Rooted in Community Need

For club leaders, the new dental clinic represents both a long-held dream and a critical step in strengthening support systems for Oakland families.

The Free Dental Clinic will serve East and West Oakland youth and their families, offering preventive services such as dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants and oral health education. It will also provide restorative care, including fillings, crowns and extractions.

“Oakland continues to lead with innovation and heart,” said Barbara Lee, mayor of Oakland. “Thanks to the partnership and investment of Sutter Health and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, families will have access to critical dental care right in their own community. As the first clinic of its kind in California — and the first here in Oakland — this is what real collaboration looks like. When we invest in our young people’s health, we invest in the future of our city.”

The Free Dental Clinic — integrated directly into the clubhouse at 3300 High St. — was designed to address the significant oral health inequities facing many Oakland families. According to local data, 45% of Oakland Unified School District students suffer from tooth decay and 65% of children in Alameda County did not receive a preventive dental visit last year. Many families struggle with high costs, limited insurance acceptance and long wait times for care.

The Free Dental Clinic will also help mitigate untreated dental pain, which is a significant driver of avoidable emergency room visits, particularly for children in underserved communities. In California, dental-related issues are among the top reasons for preventable ER visits, as patients often seek immediate relief for acute pain or infections that could have been managed in a traditional dental setting. For children, chronic untreated dental pain often results in missed school days, difficulty concentrating and impaired social development.

“It’s an honor to leverage my training as a dentist to serve the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland,” said Dr. Joe Whitehouse, clinic dentist and major supporter of the Free Dental Clinic. “I hope this clinic inspires more people in my field to step forward and share their skills with the incredible children and teens at all three Oakland clubhouses.”

By bringing dental services into a trusted, youth-centered “safe haven,” the Free Dental Clinic breaks down these barriers through seven-day-a-week access, a dedicated clinic entrance and the opportunity for children and families to receive care in a setting they already know well.

Sutter Health’s Commitment

Sutter Health’s support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland Free Dental Clinic aligns with one of its core community health priorities: access to care. Through a $75,000 investment in the clinic, Sutter seeks to help eliminate longstanding barriers that disproportionately impact children and families in East and West Oakland.

“This clinic brings life-changing care directly to the kids who need it most, right where they already feel safe, supported and seen,” said Laila E. Dreidame, vice president, Advancement & Development, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. “We’re deeply grateful for Sutter Health’s partnership and are proud to celebrate their support loudly and proudly today.”

Sutter Health has a long history of community investment and, over the past five years alone, has invested more than $4.35 billion in community benefit. This includes no-cost medical care for those who can’t afford it, services for the poor, unreimbursed costs of care for patients with Medi-Cal and community health programs and partnerships. To meet these needs, Sutter has invested in more than 150 community-based, innovative programs and partnerships across its footprint to promote meaningful and lasting improvements in the health and well-being of the patients and communities it serves.

“We’re proud to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland in expanding access to essential dental care for local youth,” said Shalini Rana, senior director, Community Health, Sutter Health Bay Area. “We know that good oral health is foundational to overall well-being and Sutter’s investment reflects our commitment to helping remove barriers so children can grow, learn and thrive.”

A Milestone for Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland

The Free Dental Clinic marks a transformative step for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, representing one of the organization’s most ambitious expansions of health services to date. With its model of combining licensed dental professionals, community partnerships and a well-established youth support environment, the clinic reflects the organization’s mission to provide safe, supportive spaces that foster academic, emotional and physical well-being for youth and their families.

Looking Ahead

As the Free Dental Clinic begins serving children and families, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland and Sutter Health look forward to continued collaboration and opportunities for deeper partnership.

“This partnership reflects the power of organizations coming together with a shared purpose,” Rana added. “It’s an investment not just in dental care, but in equity, opportunity and long-term community wellness.”