Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland to Launch State’s First Club-Based Free Dental Clinic for Youth

OAKLAND, CA — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland (BGCO) is proud to announce the grand opening of its new Free Dental Clinic on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 3300 High St., the facility is designed to meet a desperate community need for affordable dental care. To maximize accessibility, the clinic features its own dedicated entrance and will officially begin scheduling patients on the day of the grand opening, operating seven days a week to serve BGCO children and teens.

The crisis in pediatric oral health in Oakland is severe. Currently, 45% of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) students suffer from tooth decay, and 13% suffer from severe decay. Furthermore, 65% of children in Alameda County did not receive a preventive dental visit last year. Families often face insurmountable barriers, including high costs, limited insurance coverage, and a shortage of local providers who accept Medi-Cal.

“Opening this clinic is about more than healthy smiles; it’s about dignity, confidence, and giving every child the chance to show up at school and in life without pain holding them back. This clinic is our promise that Oakland’s kids deserve world-class care, close to where they live and learn,”

“Oakland continues to lead with innovation and heart. Thanks to the partnership and investment of Sutter Health and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, families will have access to critical dental care right in their own community. As the first clinic of its kind in California—and the first here in Oakland—this is what real collaboration looks like. When we invest in our young people’s health, we invest in the future of our city.”

Underscoring Sutter Health’s continued commitment to community partnerships that advance healthier outcomes for all, Christina Oh, President of Sutter’s Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division, said, “This clinic represents exactly what community partnership should be — meeting families where they are, removing barriers to care, and building healthier futures together.”

According to a report by the California Department of Public Health, untreated dental pain is a significant driver of avoidable Emergency Room (ER) visits, particularly for children in underserved communities. In California, dental-related issues are among the top reasons for preventable ER visits, as patients often seek immediate relief for acute pain or infections that could have been managed in a traditional dental setting. ERs are generally equipped only to provide temporary relief such as antibiotics or pain medication rather than treating the underlying cause of the decay. This leads to a cycle of recurring pain and worsening infection. For children, chronic untreated dental pain often results in missed school days, difficulty concentrating, and impaired social development. The Clinic seeks to prevent these issues from occurring.

BGCA’s first in California, and one of only six in the country out of over 5,500 Boys & Girls Clubs. It is only the second BGCA dental clinic on the West Coast. The clinic will prioritize preventive and minimally invasive approaches to prevent long-term dental issues. Beyond immediate treatments, the clinic’s model combines professional expertise, including that of Dr. Joe Whitehouse, DDS, with community partnerships with Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Rubin Sorrell II, and volunteerism to build a sustainable system of regular care and education.

“It’s an honor to leverage my training as a dentist to serve the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. I hope this clinic inspires more people in my field to step forward and share their skills with the incredible children and teens at all three Oakland Clubhouses,”

Thanks to supporters of the clinic, including a $75,000 investment by Sutter Health, BGCO is building lasting wellness for children and families across the Oakland community.

For more information regarding the clinic or to learn how to support this initiative, please contact the Advancement team at Advancement@bgcoakland.org or visit www.BGCOakland.org.