For many people, a trip to the dentist triggers anxiety—but imagine adding another layer: not knowing if you can afford the visit, wrestling with insurance paperwork, or having no coverage at all. What should be routine healthcare suddenly becomes a closed door.
Jennifer, a Watsonville native, returned home after more than ten years away, searching for hope and recovery. The woman staring back at her in the mirror was almost unrecognizable, especially when it came to her smile.
What started as neglected dental problems had escalated into severe issues. Without insurance, Jennifer watched her situation worsen, unable to access the care she desperately needed. “It’s frightening,” the 36-year-old recalls.
Jennifer’s struggle to navigate the healthcare system is becoming increasingly common across Santa Cruz County—and will worsen with $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California) over the next decade.
This is exactly why Dientes operates five clinics countywide, with our newest clinic opening this past August in Watsonville on Penny Lane—because people like Jennifer need high-quality, accessible care when others turn them away. And right now, people need affordable access to care more than ever. Dientes is stepping up to meet that need; this new clinic brings their total patients served annually to a staggering 18,000! To keep their doors open, they depend on community support to ensure no one is turned away regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
About 78,000 people across Santa Cruz County are Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and approximately 40,000 will be impacted by new policy changes. Things like work requirements and more frequent re-enrollment are additional obstacles that will cause even some who should remain eligible to lose coverage. The state has already decided to remove adult dental benefits for people with an “Unsatisfactory Immigration Status.” Even in this uncertain and challenging environment, Dientes is committed to continuing top-quality care for uninsured patients, but doing so requires financial support to help bridge the widening gap in healthcare.
When Jennifer found her way to Dientes, the relief wasn’t just about finally receiving treatment—it was about being met with dignity and understanding. She didn’t have insurance, but still was able to receive care. Dientes offers a sliding fee scale based on income, treating patients regardless of ability to pay—an approach that’s increasingly rare. For Jennifer and thousands like her, Dientes opens doors when no one else will.
“Initially, I was worried but was welcomed with open arms,” she said. “They made me feel safe and comfortable, especially since I was embarrassed about my dentures. A Dientes staff member told me all that matters is that I’m here taking care of myself with family. I just thought ‘Wow!’ … Everyone there has been amazing.”
Since her first visit, Jennifer has received ongoing treatment at Dientes—restoring not just her teeth, but her overall health and confidence. When dental problems are left untreated, they affect every aspect of life: the ability to eat comfortably, speak without embarrassment, smile without shame, interview for jobs, and show up for family.
With the opening of the new Penny Lane clinic in Watsonville, South County residents will have access to quality care and won’t have to wait until problems become severe. Dientes has staff who understand the barriers people face and can help navigate complex systems—being a place to land when federal cuts and stricter eligibility requirements push people through widening gaps in the healthcare safety net.
“It’s so convenient to have it here—the proximity has been so helpful to my family,” Jennifer said. Now that she has regained her confidence and health, she hopes to begin working for the first time in years. “I feel comfortable smiling around others again.”
Community support makes stories like Jennifer’s possible. Donations bridge the gap between the actual cost of care and what uninsured patients can afford to pay—support that becomes more critical in this changing healthcare landscape.
Every donation helps someone access care that changes not just their dental health, but their overall wellbeing, confidence, and future. You have a chance to give the gift of a healthy smile, to give someone dignity through dentistry. Every donation, big or small, contributes to a healthier, happier Santa Cruz community.
“Our work wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our community. The generosity we see every day enables Dientes to transform lives, one smile at a time,” says Dientes CEO Laura Marcus. You can support health equity and keep Santa Cruz smiling by donating to Dientes at https://dientes.org/lookout/. To stay in the know with Dientes, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @dientescommunitydentalcare.
