Suncoast Community Health Centers is sending mobile dental coaches into 38 Title I elementary schools across Hillsborough County, bringing free preventive care to roughly 3,800 children a year.

The program, called Smile for Every Mile, started in southeastern Hillsborough County. That means families in the Apollo Beach and Ruskin area live in the region where the effort first took root in 2008, according to 83 Degrees Media, which first reported on the program Oct. 30.

Two mobile dental coaches and a portable dental unit make the rounds. The team sees an average of 314 children each month, providing cleanings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants and oral health education, according to the report.

Parents fill out consent forms ahead of time. Children then receive care at school without a parent needing to arrange transportation or miss work.

"I believe the Mobile dental program is an essential resource for improving oral health in the communities we serve, especially among children and families who may face barriers to accessing dental care," Dalys Espinosa, mobile dental program manager at Suncoast Community Health Centers, said in the report.

Espinosa joined the mobile dental team in 2012 as a dental assistant. After nine years with the program, she returned in 2023 to manage it.

One of the most common problems she encounters is early tooth decay, often tied to poor oral hygiene and nutrition habits, according to the report. Some parents do not realize their children need dental attention until pain, visible cavities or infection develops.

Espinosa stressed the importance of regular six-month dental visits to catch problems early.

How the program grew

The mobile dental program launched in 2008, initially serving low-income and minority children in southeastern Hillsborough County. Around 2012 and 2013, Suncoast partnered with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County to expand access and address high rates of tooth decay among school-aged children.

Natalie Wrightson, chief operations officer at Suncoast Community Health Centers, said the partnership was built to improve oral health in underserved communities.

The program's reach now extends beyond schools to community partners including Children's Board Resource Centers, the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA), Head Start and The Spring of Tampa Bay.

Funding and access

Wrightson said the program receives funding through dental insurance reimbursements, donations, Department of Health community grants, Public School Head Start and other community partners. Those resources are especially critical for uninsured or underinsured children.

Espinosa said families have expressed appreciation for the convenience, particularly when children need urgent follow-up services but do not have an established dental provider.

Families can find more information about the program through Suncoast Community Health Centers' dental services page.