Quick Take
Dental services for 30,000 people in Santa Cruz County are at risk of getting cut by the Trump administration, say three community dental leaders. Here, they outline the issue and push community members to call their representatives.
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Dental services for 30,000 under-resourced adults, kids and seniors are at risk in our community. The federal government is threatening to cut Medicaid benefits – which includes offering affordable dental care to low-income people – to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.
These cuts would affect 10 million people statewide, all of whom rely on Medicaid benefits (known as Medi-Cal in California). The proposed cuts are shortsighted and fail to recognize the long-term human impact of having strong teeth and gums and living full, pain-free lives. They also don’t recognize the broader wellness and economic stability dental health brings.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), 4,500 jobs and over half a billion dollars in economic activity disappeared in 2009, when California temporarily eliminated dental benefits for adults (ADA Research Brief, 2025).
And make no mistake, the threatened federal cuts could get far worse than this example.
Poor oral health directly contributes to serious medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes complications, and respiratory infections. When adults can’t access preventive dental care, minor issues often escalate into emergencies, sending more than 2 million Americans to emergency rooms annually for dental problems that could have been prevented with basic maintenance. In fact, rather than saving money, cutting the Medi-Cal dental benefit would cost California an estimated $2 billion in additional health care costs over five years. This includes an additional $62 million per year in emergency department visits, and $330 million from related medical conditions
For decades, community dental clinics like the ones Dientes Community Dental Care operates, have helped people and businesses across California get by — whether it’s providing affordable care to a single parent, bringing services to a senior center, keeping rural dental services accessible, or giving small business employees the dental care they need to stay productive. We serve approximately 5,000 patients each month. 97% of our patients live at or below the Federal Poverty Level.
For working Californians, dental pain means missed workdays, reduced productivity, and diminished job prospects. How can someone confidently interview for a position when they’re too embarrassed to smile because of missing teeth or untreated dental issues?
This creates a vicious cycle that keeps families trapped in economic insecurity. Adults with healthy mouths require fewer sick days and are more productive contributors to our economy. Ensuring Californians can smile with confidence, eat nutritious foods and live without preventable pain isn’t just the compassionate choice — it’s the fiscally responsible one too.
Here’s a local example. Steven was 57 years old in 2009 when he experienced tragic and lasting consequences from the previous Medi-Cal dental benefit cuts. He had seven failing fillings that needed crowns, which he could not afford without insurance. Five years later, when Medi-Cal dental benefits were finally reinstated, he made it to the dentist to address the issue; however, by that time his teeth had to be extracted and replaced with partial dentures.
“I grew up going to the dentist and have taken care of my teeth,” Steven told us. “But when I needed to fix my fillings – which happens as people age – I couldn’t afford it. This whole situation has been deeply hurtful and has had lifelong consequences. I’ve lost my teeth, and I will never get them back. I’m scared of a future without dental coverage again. It would have been far cheaper to replace my fillings than to have to pay for dentures.”
Organizations like Dientes are doing remarkable work providing affordable dental services to Californians just like Steven, but we can’t solve this problem alone. We need solutions that recognize dental care as essential health care for adults of all ages.
We urge you to contact your representatives and demand they support no cuts to dental benefits in the Medi-Cal program, and no cuts to Medicaid to fund tax cuts for the rich. And we ask California’s House and Senate members to budget wisely and focus on protecting dental benefits as part of the Medi-Cal program.
Laura Marcus is the CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care. She currently serves on the board of Housing Matters, Health Improvement Partnership, Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the National Network for Oral Health’s Advocacy Collaborative.
George Lips brings over two decades of dental practice management to his new role as Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Dental Society, which represents the dentist community in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties.
David Brody and Sheree Storm are co-chairs of Oral Health Access Santa Cruz County. David is also Executive Director of First 5 Santa Cruz County and serves on the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission. Sheree Storm is also Chief Strategy Officer at Dientes Community Dental Care and serves on the First 5 Santa Cruz County Commission.