Dental Clinic

In May 2010, a man donated $100 to our Dental Clinic. He related that two years ago, he was jobless, a student, lacking insurance, and suffering from a tooth abscess.  Unable to pay for treatment by a private dentist, he was treated without charge at the Aloha Medical Mission Dental Clinic. Now employed and renting an apartment, he felt compelled to give back so that others could be helped.

It is estimated that, incredibly, 430,000 people, a full third of Hawai‘i's population, lack adequate dental care because they cannot afford dental insurance.

In 2002, AMM created the only free dental clinic in Hawai‘i at the Pālama Settlement, once home to the Strong-Carter Dental Clinic. Each month, this clinic provides free dental services to approximately 120 patients who would otherwise have no access to dental care. The paid staff includes a full-time director, a full-time dentist, a full-time receptionist, and one full-time and two part-time dental assistants. They work with 12 volunteer dentists and a volunteer dental hygienist. The majority of the dental clinic expenses are covered by state and private grants. The in-kind value of services amounted to over $125,000 in 2008.

By September 2011, the Dental Clinic added a fourth fully equipped dental chair and X-ray unit, allowing us to increase our daily patient load.

We have developed partnerships with the University of Hawai‘i Dental Hygiene Program, the Kapi‘olani Community College of Nursing and Dental Assisting Programs, and the Lutheran Medical Center Pediatric Dental Residency Program. Our clinic provides an important training facility for these students and residents who will go on to serve our community's dental needs when they complete their professional education.

We are actively recruiting for dental hygienists and volunteer dentists.