Community colleges expanding dental care offerings
Julia Barajas
explores how college students achieve their goals, whether they’re fresh out of high school, pursuing graduate work or looking to join the labor force through alternative pathways.
Published March 6, 2024 5:01 AM
Dental hygiene Student Biyoura Sinani and dental hygiene instructor Mariah Bonner staff work in the dental clinic at West LA College.
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Topline:
Antelope Valley College offers vouchers for free basic dental care. Other SoCal community colleges provide similar services at their educational clinics.
Who’s eligible: The vouchers are solely for students who are enrolled at Antelope Valley College. The educational clinics are open to students and the public.
Why it matters: Dental pain can make it hard for students to focus on school. Poor oral health can also increase their risk of developing other health issues.
Why now: The basic needs programs at California’s Community Colleges have become increasingly robust. Food pantries are now hubs for other essential services. Staff say their goal is to address any barrier that could get in the way of student success.
Basic needs services at California’s community colleges can take any number of forms. Students might find information on how to get help with housing and transportation, or get funding for laundry, utilities, or textbooks. Many schools have also opened up their gyms so that unhoused students can access a warm shower.
Jill Zimmerman is dean of students at Antelope Valley College, home to one of the more robust basic needs programs. She said she and her colleagues are always asking themselves: “What more can we do?”
Their goal is to eliminate any barrier that could get in the way of student success, she said. So through partnerships with local clinics, or by tapping into their own resources, Antelope Valley College and other campuses have also enabled access to another essential service that’s still rare among basic needs services: dental care.
Good oral health through local partnerships
Antelope Valley College has an ongoing partnership with a clinic in Palmdale, about 15 minutes away from campus. All students — with or without insurance, and regardless of their legal status — can get a voucher for dental work every semester. These vouchers entitle students to free X-rays, oral exams, teeth cleanings, and other basic services. (For students without cars, the college also provides bus passes.)
“It's kind of a no-brainer when you think about it,” said Antelope Valley College president Jennifer Zellet. The vouchers are made possible through state funding and a $19 student health fee, she said. Antelope Valley College students can also get vouchers for other health services, including free eye exams and glasses.
Zimmerman, who has been developing the college’s basic needs program for over two decades, said that vouchers for things like dentistry or eye exams or glasses are as important as access to food. For anyone wondering what dental care has to do with education, she added, “that person has obviously never had a toothache.”
Beatriz Gongora is a second-year student who’s getting ready to transfer. She’s a singer who also plays the tenor saxophone, the piano, and the drums. Her goal is to become a music teacher.
Earlier in her college journey, Gongora found herself couch surfing and struggling to find an affordable place to stay. The instability made it hard to keep up in school, she said. She turned to the school’s basic needs center for support, and staff helped her secure free housing through a third-party program.
They also got her a dental voucher; it had been nearly three years since her last visit.
“I got a couple fillers, and I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket,” she said.
Other area colleges are making more of an effort too.
Dental hygiene student Biyoura Sinani and instructor Mariah Bonner at work in West L.A. College.
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Long Beach City College has also explored subsidizing oral care.
At the school's Viking Vault, nearly 1,000 students stock up on groceries every week. Last year, they also had a chance to sign up for dental care, said Justin Mendez, the basic needs director.
A local clinic was hosting a day of service and through a one-time partnership, Long Beach City College provided off-campus dental care for students. These services included free teeth cleanings to remove plaque and tartar, which can cause cavities and decay. Mendez said they plan to host more of these events in the near future.
Dental hygiene student Abigail Martinez sits in as a patient for her classmate, Tuesy Phung, who is practicing an exam.
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In-house services
While some colleges provide off-campus dental care through partnerships with local clinics, others offer these services through their educational clinics.
Here’s how to make an appointment at a local educational dental clinic:
For West L.A College, fill out this interest form (available in English and Spanish).
At both campuses, services are limited to those that meet the needs of students in training. The procedures will be carried out by students, under the supervision of licensed dentists or dental hygienists.
At Pasadena City College, the Dental Hygiene Clinic offers low-cost services for students and the general public. These include teeth cleanings, X-rays, and sealants. (Those protect molars from cavities.) The procedures are performed by dental hygiene students, under the supervision of licensed dentists and dental hygienists.
West L.A. College — one of the four California Community Colleges that offer bachelor's degrees in dental hygiene — also has an on-campus clinic. There, students and community members can access free services similar to Pasadena City College’s.
The student clinic is “very popular,” in part because patients don’t need insurance to be treated, said Lisa Kamibayashi, director of the dental hygiene program. The clinic is open to anyone who’s interested. Some patients have even come from out-of-state.
All students are also supervised by professionals. But, because they’re in training, Kamibayashi added, services usually take “a little bit longer than usual.”
Dental Hygiene Program Director Lisa Kamibayashi, inside the dental clinic at West L.A. College.
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Luis Rosales enrolled in West L.A. College’s bachelor’s program after years of working as a dental assistant.
“I wanted to grow within the field,” he said. Plus, as a first-generation college student, he wants to set an example for his children and siblings.
Among other things, he’s learned how to use X-rays to better detect cavities, bone loss, and infections.
Hien Tran is close to completing her coursework. Her goal is to run a clinic with her brother, who's currently in dental school.
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Hien Tran, also a student at West L.A. College, is getting close to completing her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.
Looking back on her first time treating a patient, she recalls feeling unnerved. There was “a lot of blood,” she said. Tran was grateful that her professor was there to guide her through the process. Since then, she’s provided care for dozens of patients. And through this experience, she learned the importance of putting patients at ease.
Patients “usually have anxiety when they have to get injections,” she said. “So you need to learn how to [do procedures] without making a face ... You need to be confident, so they don’t feel scared.”
The West L.A. bachelor's program can be competitive. Each year, they get about 200 applications for 35 slots.
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Dental students and staff pose for a photo in the dental clinic at West LA College.
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A bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene will open doors for students, Kamibayashi said. Graduates “can go into teaching, research, sales, or public health. Some go on to dental school.”
As for other students on campus, Kamibayashi said that while dental pain can certainly make it hard for students to focus, the issue goes beyond academic performance. Poor oral health can increase their risk of developing “cardiovascular and respiratory [issues], even dementia,” she said. The clinic is meant to support their long-term health.
Elly Yu
reports on early childhood. From housing to health, she covers issues facing the youngest Angelenos and their families.
Published January 26, 2026 5:00 AM
At least 280 childcare facilities were destroyed or damaged in the Palisades and Eaton fires.
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Topline:
Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing $11. 5 million in next year’s budget to help rebuild child care centers affected by the fires last January.
The backstory: At least 40 childcare facilities were destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires, and more than 200 were damaged. Providers have struggled to reopen, even a year later, especially those who ran their businesses out of their homes that then burned down. They have called on the state for assistance. Some providers did receive payments from the state for 30 days after the L.A. fires, after which point the governor’s office directed them to an unemployment phone line.
“We fought hard to win this funding and will continue to advocate for policies and funding that ensure the state is better prepared to support providers and families in the immediate aftermath of future disasters,” said Claudia Alvarado, a child care provider with the union Child Care Providers United.
What’s next: Lawmakers have until June 15 to agree on and pass the state’s budget.
This week, check out Cat Video Fest, Grammy Week, a Bridgerton ice cream social, Katherine Ryan at the Wilshire Ebell and more.
Highlights:
The L.A. Central Library is turning 100 this year, with a number of events celebrating 100 years of learning. The kickoff includes the unveiling of a time capsule that was placed in the building’s cornerstone during its original construction in 1926.
Part Dear Abby, part Joan Rivers, Katherine Ryan is touring with her new special, Battleaxe.
Storied L.A. cocktail bar The Varnish closed in 2024, but you can step back behind the bar with one of its legendary mixologists, Sari Asher. This class will teach you the secrets behind three classics and provide a chance to relive the Varnish magic.
From the Upper Valley in the Foothills at Marta in Los Feliz centers on wood. The exhibit is sponsored by Angel City Lumber, a “unique lumber mill that specializes in sourcing downed trees from around L.A. County for use in community projects,” and each artist chose a section of wood that was cleared from Altadena. The invitation called upon artists to “examine the regenerative potential of a single, fundamental material” and includes works from furniture to sculpture and more.
While the rest of the country battles a real season with snow and freezing temps, we are deep into awards season, with Oscar noms already out and the Grammys coming up next weekend.
Since it’s Grammy Week, I’ll let our Licorice Pizza expert Lyndsey Parker give the lowdown for all the best music events:
Pull all the strings you can to get into the VIP parties and events around town, but there’s plenty of great tunes even for those without red carpet status. On Monday, everyone’s favorite indie-rock comic Fred Armisen is back at Largo, while Texas rockers Nothing More will take over the Belasco on Tuesday. On Wednesday, singer-songwriters Madison Cunningham and Mike Viola play the Bellwether, folk buzz band Lavender Diamond is at 2220 Arts + Archives and bluegrass star Molly Tuttle is at the Grammy Museum. On Thursday, Cannons play the Fonda, Lindsey Troy of Deap Vally is at Bardot for “It’s A School Night,” Inara George is at Zebulon, Grace Bowers plays the Troubadour, Robert Glasper plays the Blue Note and perhaps most exciting of all, Lizzie McGuire herself, Hilary Duff, makes her comeback at the Wiltern.
Thursday, January 29, 11 a.m. Mark Taper Auditorium L.A. Central Library 650 W. 5th Street, Downtown L.A. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Downtown L.A.'s Central Library.
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The L.A. Central Library is a gem in our fair city — it hosts incredible author events and artists residencies; has a dedicated teen area and a museum; and is an architectural icon. There’s an entire prize-winning book about the 1986 fire that ripped through it (one of my favorite books ever, highly recommend). And the library is turning 100 this year, with a number of events celebrating 100 years of learning. The kickoff includes the unveiling of a time capsule that was placed in the building’s cornerstone during its original construction in 1926.
Bridgerton Ice Cream Social
Thursday, January 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams 1954 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Dearest Reader, Cool down from the steamy launch of Bridgerton season 4 with a cool Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams social. The afternoon includes a performance from Vitamin String Quartet (who do those cool orchestral covers of pop songs in the show) and free scoops of the new Queen Charlotte Sponge Cake flavor.
Remember the Varnish: Cocktail intensive
Monday, January 26, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. TalkTales Entertainment 555 N. Spring Street, Suite 106, Downtown L.A. COST: $85; MORE INFO
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Storied L.A. cocktail bar The Varnish closed in 2024 (and if you, like me, frequented it in its mid-aughts heyday, it might be time for your first colonoscopy), but you can step back behind the bar with one of its legendary mixologists, Sari Grossman, who created balanced concoctions there for eight years. This class will teach you the secrets behind three classics and provide a chance to relive the Varnish magic.
From the Upper Valley in the Foothills
Through January 31 (open Wednesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Marta 3021 Rowena Ave., Los Feliz COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Ryan Belli
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Marta
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The concept for this group show in Los Feliz centers on an element that came into singular focus following last year’s devastating Palisades and Eaton fires: wood. The exhibit is sponsored by Angel City Lumber, a “unique lumber mill that specializes in sourcing downed trees from around L.A. County for use in community projects,” and each artist chose a section of wood that was cleared from Altadena. The invitation called upon artists to “examine the regenerative potential of a single, fundamental material” and includes works from furniture to sculpture and more.
Katherine Ryan: Battleaxe
Thursday, January 29, 7 p.m. Wilshire Ebell Theatre 4401 W. 8th Street, Mid-Wilshire COST: FROM $30; MORE INFO
Full disclosure, if there’s one podcast I keep up with, it’s Katherine Ryan’s Telling Everybody Everything. Part Dear Abby, part Joan Rivers, Ryan is relatable even when she’s not. Always a little too honest, she spills about raising a family, the ups and downs of a comedy career and all the guilty pleasure celeb news you’re afraid to admit you read. The Canadian comic has been living in the UK since she was in her 20s and has a unique take on England that’s more Real Housewives than Bill Bryson. She’s touring with her new special, Battleaxe.
Transgresoras: Artists Giana De Dier and Marilyn Boror Bor with Elena Shtromberg Tuesday, January 27, 1 p.m. California Museum of Photography, UC Riverside 3824 Main Street, Riverside COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Latina women artists used the postal service starting in the 1960s to circulate their artworks and avoid censorship. Now, that work is being shown to the public in a new exhibit at UC Riverside’s California Museum of Photography. On Tuesday, there’s a free online talk with artists Giana De Dier and Marilyn Boror Bor, both featured in the exhibition, moderated by the exhibition’s co-curator Elena Shtromberg. The discussion will explore “both artists’ interventions in narratives around public space in Panama and Guatemala within the context of their broader artistic practice.” You can stream the talk for free; it will take place in Spanish with live audio translation. The show is on at the museum until February 15.
NHM Movie Night: Cat Video Fest Thursday, January 29, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Natural History Museum’s NHM Commons Theater 900 Exposition Blvd., Expo Park COST: $20; MORE INFO
Regular readers of this column know I can’t pass up a good cat event, and this one at the Natural History Museum might be the, um, lion of them all. The CatVideo Fest features 75 minutes of curated cat videos, plus the entire evening is cat-centric, with an opportunity to walk through the lauded Fierce Cats exhibit, check out local cat-friendly vendors and meet with museum educators.
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Demonstrators gather in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota.
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Topline:
Demonstrations are planned by several different local groups in SoCal today over the fatal shooting of a man by federal agents in Minnesota on Saturday morning
Read on to learn more.
Several local groups in SoCal have planned demonstrations today over the fatal shooting of a man by federal agents in Minnesota on Saturday morning.
A Kaiser Permanente employee works on a computer at Kaiser Permanente Medical Office in Manhattan Beach, California.
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Etienne Laurent
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Topline:
Some 31,000 nurses and healthcare workers employed by Kaiser Permanente will begin an open-ended strike in California and Hawaii on Monday.
Why it matters: California has the largest share of picketing Kaiser workers, with about 28,000 employees.
Why now: The health system and the union representing Kaiser workers — United Nurses Associations of California & the Union of Health Care Professionals — have been negotiating for a new labor contract for months.
Some 31,000 nurses, pharmacists and healthcare workers employed by Kaiser Permanente will begin an open-ended strike tomorrow in California and Hawaii, with 28,000 of those workers in California alone.
The health system and the union representing Kaiser workers — United Nurses Associations of California & the Union of Health Care Professionals — have been negotiating for a new labor contract for months. Core bargaining issues include wages for nurses, understaffing and retirement benefits.
"Staffing's been a big problem, wages, working conditions ... and that's just to name a few," said Peter Sidhu, Executive Vice President of UNAC/UCHP. "We will have the largest open-ended healthcare strike in U.S. history."
Picketing is slated to begin at 12 local Kaiser medical facilities in the following communities: Anaheim, Baldwin Park, Downey, Fontana, Irvine, Los Angeles, Ontario, Riverside, Harbor City, Panorama City, West Los Angeles and Woodland Hills.
Kaiser said in a statement that their hospitals and medical offices will stay open during the strikes, but some pharmacies will close.
