Renee Garland’s 15 years of being addicted to methamphetamines left her with “meth” mouth – the damage that the drugs do to a person’s mouth and teeth.

Once she was drug free, she began experiencing excruciating pain and searched for a dental clinic that would treat low income patients. Garland came across the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic and she says, “They are a blessing to me. Now I can smile and not be self conscious.”

Garland is but one of the thousands who have received dental care at the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic over the last 23 years. She will be receiving additional dental work in the coming months. 

The San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic is opening its new facility on the 22 acre, $90 million Haven for Hope campus, which will provide multi-disciplinary care for the homeless. The clinic will offer dental care for not only the homeless, but also for qualified low-income adults from the community. 

Garland says that when she saw the new clinic, she cried. “This new clinic is just awesome. They are better equipped to help even more people, and they can do oral surgery right there. Before they had to refer you out to someone else,” she says.
 
Founded in 1986 by an alliance of First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church – San Antonio, the clinic grew from one chair to eight and up until now, it operated in just 4,700 square feet. Last year it recorded over 24,000 patient visits for more than 7,000 unduplicated clients, yet the clinic employs only six full-time staff and four part-time employees. 

All services are provided by professional volunteers: dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, sterilization specialists and office personnel. Free dental services include exams, x-rays, oral health education, cleanings fillings and extractions. Prosthetics include dentures, bridges and partials.

The new dental clinic includes 16 dental chairs, surgical rooms with track lighting, x-ray rooms with new chairs, recovery chairs with oxygen (if needed), cabinetry, hospital grade sterilizer and sterilization with instrument washers, a complete lab for making partials and dentures as well as  computers, furnishings and office space for dentists and other volunteers.

The San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic raised nearly $800,000 for new dental equipment and cabinetry.  Haven for Hope provided construction and finish out costs for the building, which was designed according to SACDC’s specifications, and funded by Methodist Health Care Ministries of South Texas.

Executive Director David A. Phipps says, “National surveys show that over one half of the homeless population had not seen a dentist in two years or more. In comparison to the general population, homeless persons are at least twice as likely to have serious oral pathologies, requiring effective treatment.

“In addition, the homeless face other issues such as drug abuse, alcoholism, and mental illness, all of which replace a person’s priorities in seeking dental care. We see an economic benefit for our clients, in addition to their improved health,” Phipps adds. “Once treatment is received, the patients often see a renewal of self-esteem which allows them to seek and maintain meaningful employment, thus becoming an asset to not only to their family, but to the community, he stresses.” 

Board President Kenneth R. Krueger, DDS, adds, “We are the only clinic that provides no-and low-cost treatment for adults in all of San Antonio. This unique service is invaluable and important for those in need in our city.”