Grant Recipient Spotlight

Dental Aid’s Mission

Dental Aid was established in 1974 as the first nonprofit, stand-alone, comprehensive dental 
clinic in Colorado.

Dental Aid provides emergency care, preventive services, restorative care, hospital-based care through their partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, and specialty care in orthodontics. And while the AAPD Foundation’s mission is to provide dental care for kids, Dental Aid provides care for adults too. Because parents with healthy smiles raise kids with healthy smiles! They 
focus on inter-generational, whole-family care and prioritize comprehensive care for uninsured children with severe early childhood decay.

What makes Dental Aid truly special is their unwavering commitment to their community – they turn no patient away. Whether their patients have insurance, Medicaid, or nothing at all, they’re ready to help. They have general dentists and a pediatric dentist that accept Medicaid.

Amid the picturesque mountains and vibrant communities, the residents of Boulder and its surrounding areas are experiencing a serious housing affordability crisis. When so much of their household budget goes toward keeping a roof over their head, there’s little left for healthcare, especially dental care. This creates an impossible situation where families must choose between paying rent and addressing dental pain. No family should have to make that choice!

Their typical pediatric patient at Dental Aid is a Spanish-speaking 4-year-old with several siblings. These little heroes often come from families where dental knowledge and resources are limited. Dental Aid focuses first on creating a safe space to receive care which includes greeting and communicating in Spanish as needed, working with cultural barriers, allaying fears and financial concerns, and providing care in a non-threatening, non-judgement manner.

Real Impact, Real People

Behind every statistic is a real person with real pain and real needs. When a 14-year-old boy came into Dental Aid with his family for dental work, his discomfort was visible. The family had just immigrated from Morocco by way of France and only spoke French. The boy’s braces hadn’t been adjusted in over a year, causing gingivitis and decay.

The big problem? Medicaid doesn’t cover removing orthodontic appliances already in place, and this family was already struggling with all the challenges of being in a new environment.

Thanks to funds from the Access to Care Grant, Dental Aid was able to remove his braces, restore his teeth, and give him back a healthy smile! They treated his brother and eventually his parents too. And beyond the procedures, Dental Aid staff spent time teaching the whole family about how to care for their teeth – how important daily hygiene is, especially when it’s been so long without regular dental care. Little by little, Dental Aid earned their trust. Dental Aid treated this family – and treats all their patients – not just with clinical expertise, but with respect and compassion.

As I wrap up today’s dental adventure, I leave you with this: a healthy smile is more than just straight teeth or cavity-free checkups. It’s about dignity. It’s about confidence. It’s about being able to eat, speak, and laugh without pain or embarrassment. When we help a child achieve a healthy smile, we’re not just treating teeth. We’re opening doors to better overall health, improved school performance, greater self-esteem, and brighter futures.