For people who’ve gone a lifetime without proper dental care, a healthy smile can be a catalyst for confidence and the beginning of a new chapter. Nonprofit Cura Smiles has donated more than 4,000 dental procedures to San Diegans who lack access to oral care. Founder Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick spent a decade providing volunteer dental care in Nicaragua before turning his focus to needs closer to home.
In 2017, he launched Cura Smiles and spent three years converting the space inside the Mid-City Church of the Nazarene into a dental clinic. The space officially opened in 2020.
Today, the clinic has a roster of roughly 30 volunteer dentists and support staff (Cura Smiles only has three paid employees), and, through grants and fundraising efforts, recently added two new dental chairs, which allows the organization to serve more people.
“We’re a small but powerful team, but we’re growing little by little, which is exciting,” says Christine Passmore, executive director of Cura Smiles.
Last year, Cura Smiles served 247 patients, of which 110 received sets of dentures. This year, it set a goal of 275, and has already surpassed that number significantly. To date, it has donated more than $1 million in services.
“There’s been such a high demand for services—which is fantastic. We just have to pace ourselves and make sure we have the resources to meet those needs,” says Passmore.
To qualify for Cura Smiles’ no-cost dental care, potential patients only have to answer two questions: Do you have insurance? And do you have the ability to pay for your care?
The vast majority of Cura Smile’s patients fall below the poverty line, with many being unemployed or experiencing homelessness. Cura also partners with other local organizations providing other services to the same populations, so they can ensure their patients have access to as much help as possible.
Passmore says that for some of Cura’s patients, a revitalized smile is truly life-changing. Poor oral health and the pain and discomfort that comes with it affects a person’s ability to eat nutritious food, plus if a person isn’t confident about their teeth, their self-esteem and mental health can suffer, which in turn affects their ability to get a job and their willingness to be active in their communities. Poor oral health is also linked to systemic health issues, including heart disease and certain types of cancers.
“It’s such a beautiful thing when we can provide dentures for people and help them feel confident again about smiling,” she adds. Cura Smiles is actively recruiting volunteer dentists and staff members. For more information or to make a monetary donation, visit curasmiles.org.
