As a dentist in Montclair, I have heard the same heartbreaking story from too many Latino parents. Their child wakes up crying from a toothache, unable to eat, sleep, or concentrate at school. In desperation, families spend days calling clinics, only to hear that the office doesn’t accept Medi-Cal or that the next available appointment is months away. These are hardworking parents doing their best for their children, yet a simple cavity is allowed to spiral into a serious health issue. This is a systemic failure that threatens the children’s well-being.
Montclair is a working-class community where almost 72% of residents are Hispanic. Many of them are juggling multiple jobs, caring for extended family, and relying on public insurance to meet basic health needs. Yet, when it comes to dental care, the system continues to fail them. While conversations around healthcare equity have grown louder, oral health still remains a neglected corner of policy and funding — even though it directly affects a child’s ability to grow, learn, and thrive.
A persistent dental gap in Hispanic communities…