From Upstream to Outreach: Advancing Oral Health Equity Through Mobile Dentistry

My journey into public health began as an undergraduate, the moment I stepped into my first Introduction to Public Health class. I still vividly remember the lecture that introduced me to the concept of “upstreamism” — the idea that health care shouldn’t only react to illness but also look upstream to address the root causes of health issues before they begin. That idea reshaped how I understood health care. I came to realize that true health isn’t just about treating symptoms; it’s equally important to prevent them by addressing the societal and structural factors that disproportionately impact people’s quality of life and health outcomes. 

That same year, I had the opportunity to see these principles in action as I began volunteering with a UCLA organization called SCOPE (Students for Community Outreach, Promotion, and Education). Through SCOPE, I provided social casework for patients of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels following their primary care visits by connecting them to resources in dental care, mental health, housing, nutrition, transportation, parenting support groups, and more. As I sat with patients and listened to the stories behind their responses on our social determinants of health survey, I began to understand how deeply complex and interconnected their needs were. Their challenges extended far beyond the medical chart. Each conversation underscored how profoundly social factors influence a person’s health and deepened my conviction to pursue a form of dentistry that goes beyond treating teeth — one that embraces holistic care by supporting patients’ physical, emotional, and even spiritual well-being. 

My passion for improving access to care only grew from there, especially with the idea of meeting patients where they are. To me, this meant more than physically going into underserved communities. It meant understanding patients in the context of their lives, without judgment, and tailoring care to recognize their unique challenges and strengths.  

After college, I continued this work by volunteering in elementary school classrooms across the Bay Area, where I provided oral hygiene education and helped perform basic dental screenings. Many of the children I met had never seen a dentist before. Some were scared, others a tad more curious. However, once they had a toy toothbrush and a dinosaur puppet with shiny teeth in front of them, even the most hesitant students were excited to practice brushing. These moments may have seemed small, but they left a lasting impression on me. They showed me how early intervention and interactive health education can shape lifelong oral health habits and prevent dental disease. 

“To make dental services truly accessible requires going beyond the walls of traditional outreach and bringing care directly to the spaces where unhoused individuals live and receive support, such as encampments, shelters, and nonprofit centers.”

Fast forward to dental school, and my commitment to working with underserved populations and breaking down barriers to care has only deepened. I’ve had the privilege of participating in community health fairs by providing cleanings, oral cancer screenings, fluoride varnish applications, and oral hygiene instruction to both children and adults. These experiences have helped me grow as a dental provider and also planted the seed for my UCLA Health Equity Challenge project, an initiative to establish a mobile dental clinic for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Los Angeles.  

This mobile clinic project is an extension of the guiding principle that has shaped all of my community service efforts: to meet patients where they are — both physically and in the context of their lives. While my outreach efforts with the UCLA School of Dentistry allowed our team to reach patients who lacked access to basic dental care at schools and community center-based health fairs, I began to think about those who remained out of reach, including those unable to travel to these locations or who may not have even known these services existed.  

My focus turned to Skid Row, a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles with the highest density of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County and arguably one of the areas with the greatest unmet dental needs. It became clear that this is where our care was most urgently needed. To make dental services truly accessible requires going beyond the walls of traditional outreach and bringing care directly to the spaces where unhoused individuals live and receive support, such as encampments, shelters, and nonprofit centers.  

We are excited to partner with Care Harbor, a nonprofit organization devoted to organizing large-scale free clinics that provide medical, dental, and vision care to thousands of uninsured and underserved patients across Los Angeles County. Together, our mobile clinic initiative aims to offer free dental exams, cleanings, restorative care, and oral health education, along with referrals to social services and follow-up care.  

During this process, I’ve had the great privilege of being mentored by Dr. Elbert Tom, a faculty member at the UCLA School of Dentistry whose longstanding dedication to community-based dentistry has been a source of both support and inspiration. With years of experience organizing dental missions both across California and abroad, Dr. Tom has guided me through each phase of this project — from identifying the right community-based partner to thinking through care logistics, equipment, and sustainability. His practical insight and unwavering belief in this vision have been instrumental in bringing this initiative to life, and I’m deeply grateful for his mentorship.  

This project is the culmination of everything I’ve learned and loved about public health and dentistry. It brings together prevention, outreach, and advocacy into one tangible initiative aimed at reducing oral health disparities and bridging gaps in dental care access. Furthermore, at the heart of this work is a core belief I hold closely: that we each have a responsibility to use our knowledge, skills, and resources to uplift and serve the communities around us.