UT Dentists to provide dental care at Houston Food Bank CORE
Representatives from UT Dentists joined community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and corporate partners on Sept. 1 for the groundbreaking of CORE.
UT Dentists, the clinical practice of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, plans to provide affordable dental care at CORE by Houston Food Bank, a new community campus designed to expand access to health and supportive services for residents across Southeast Texas.
Representatives from UT Dentists joined community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and corporate partners on Sept. 1 for the groundbreaking of CORE, a 310,000-square-foot facility that will be built on a 52-acre site at TX-249 and Ella Boulevard in northwest Houston.
The School of Dentistry is among a group of community partners that will provide support and resources within a federally qualified health center planned for the CORE campus. Through its clinical practice, UT Dentists plans to partner with HOPE Clinic to deliver dental care at the site, expanding access to essential oral health services for children and adults in the surrounding community.
UT Dentists currently partners with HOPE Clinic at its Aldine-Meadows, Alief, and West locations.
“This will be our fourth site with HOPE Clinic,” said Thomas Servos, DDS, chief clinical officer. “We treat both pediatric and adult dental patients and are excited about the opportunity to bring dental services to another community location.”
Initially, services will include preventive care, such as comprehensive and periodic examinations, dental cleanings, oral hygiene instruction, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and dental X-rays. Patients also will have access to basic restorative care, including fillings, as well as selected tooth extractions provided on a case-by-case basis.
Servos said UT Dentists hopes to expand its offerings as the program grows and additional resources become available.
The partnership builds on the School of Dentistry’s commitment to improving access to oral healthcare through community-based programs and collaborations. By working alongside HOPE Clinic and other nonprofit organizations, UT Dentists helps connect underserved populations with preventive and restorative dental services that can contribute to overall health and quality of life.
CORE will bring together a network of community partners, including health care providers, legal aid organizations, recreational services, and educational programs. The facility will also feature a community lobby, food hall, commercial kitchen, and conference center designed to foster collaboration and community engagement.
The Houston Food Bank serves more than 1 million people annually across its 18-county service area. Once completed, CORE is expected to expand the organization’s distribution capacity, emergency response capabilities, volunteer opportunities, and cold storage infrastructure while providing residents with access to a range of health and supportive services in one location.
For UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry and UT Dentists, the project represents another opportunity to expand access to oral health care through community-based services and partnerships.