Dental Care Access Foundation

10/02/2026

Tonight was about so much more than dental care.

It was about meeting people where they are, listening to their stories and giving them the care they so desperately needed. For some, that meant relieving pain and treating infection that could have otherwise led to another hospital visit. For others it was about being heard.

Sometimes a smile is about so much more than teeth. It is about reminding someone that they matter.

Changing Lives One Smile at a Time.

10/01/2026

Dental Care Access Foundation is incredibly excited to announce that we have received a $10,000 gift from Orlando Health!

This is so much more than a check. It means more children can receive preventive dental care. More families can access services they might otherwise go without. More adults can get out of pain and receive urgent care when they need it most.

It means more smiles protected, more infections treated, more children learning that taking care of their teeth matters, and more people in our community getting the care they deserve.

We are incredibly grateful to Orlando Health for seeing the need, believing in our mission, and choosing to invest in better access to dental care for our community.

We could not do this work without partners who step up and say YES to healthier smiles.

Thank you, Orlando Health, for being part of the DCAF family and helping us continue Changing Lives One Smile at a Time!

09/18/2026

Tonight at DCAF’s Adult Knights Clinic, Dr. Campbell and the UCF Pre-Dental Student Association came together to provide something that so many people in our community need: access to care when they are in pain and have nowhere else to turn.

Behind every appointment is a team of people who chose to give their time, skills and compassion. We are so grateful to Dr. Campbell and the UCF PDSA students for showing up, working alongside our clinical team and being part of what makes these nights possible.

This is what community looks like. Dentists volunteering their skills. Students learning through service. Volunteers giving their time. And patients leaving with a little less pain and a reason to smile.

Changing lives one smile at a time.

09/17/2026

Today marked our first DCAF Dental Day of the 2026–2027 school year, and what a meaningful way to begin.

We spent the day at Colonial High School’s 9th Grade Center, where every child received something that goes far beyond an oral hygiene kit. Each student had one-on-one time with our team to learn about their own oral health, ask questions, and receive personalized oral hygiene instruction. They left with a kit, new knowledge, and access to wraparound dental care to help make sure their smile continues to be cared for beyond today.

For some children, a conversation about brushing and taking care of their teeth may seem like a small thing. To us, it is an opportunity to give a child confidence, prevent future dental problems, and remind them that their health matters.

That is what makes DCAF Dental Days so special. We are not just handing out toothbrushes. We are creating connections, providing education, opening doors to care, and hopefully helping children build healthy habits that stay with them for years to come.

We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers who made today possible. Thank you to Dr. Hall, Renata, RDH, and the UCF Pre-Dental Student Association for giving your time, energy, and hearts to these students.

This is why we do what we do. Because every child deserves the opportunity to grow up with a healthy smile and the knowledge to care for it.

09/12/2026

Community Care with a side of Saturday Fun!

09/12/2026

What a reunion.

Years ago, as UCF PDSA Pre-Dental students, Brett and Valentina volunteered alongside Dr. Pearl Burns. They assisted her, learned from her, and got to experience dentistry while working toward becoming dentists themselves.

Today, they walked back through the door as Dr. Silvers and Dr. Garcia and there they were again, side by side with Dr. Burns, this time as dentists and colleagues, caring for patients together.

But what made today even more special was who was standing beside them.

Today’s UCF PDSA Pre-Dental students were there assisting Dr. Burns, Dr. Silvers and Dr. Garcia, watching, learning, and getting a glimpse of what their own future could look like.

There was something pretty incredible about seeing that entire circle in one room.

The mentor.
The students who became doctors.
And the students who are just beginning their journey.

Dr. Matthew Hall also stopped by at the end of the day to surprise Dr. Burns and say hello while she is back in town. With Dr. Burns spending so much of her time serving others through mission trips and teaching in Africa with Mercy Ships, it was a wonderful surprise to end the day.

Today was a beautiful reminder that the impact of volunteering doesn’t always end when the day is over. Sometimes, years later, you find yourself back in the same room, standing beside the people who helped you get there, while helping someone else begin their own journey.

09/11/2026

Last night was a truly special DCAF Knights Clinic.

We were honored to have the full UCF PDSA E-Board with us, along with our UCF PDSA Academic Advisor, Dr. Contreras, and Dr. Avery Goldberg, the person who started the club. Having the past, present, and future of UCF PDSA together in one room was an incredibly meaningful full circle moment.

What started as an idea has grown into a community of students and volunteers committed to serving others. Last night, that commitment was felt by the patients we were fortunate enough to care for.

Because of everyone who volunteered their time, energy, and skills, patients in our community who are in need received care and went home healthier. That is what makes nights like this so meaningful. Behind every patient is a person, a family, and a story, and we are grateful to have played even a small part in making their lives a little better.

Many patients were helped, many core memories were made, and a legacy continued.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and made this night possible. Thank you to Dr. Contreras for coming to see what we are building, and to Dr. Goldberg for starting the journey that brought us all together.

Last night was more than a clinic. It was a celebration of where we came from, the impact we are making today, and everything still to come.

What a monumental night.

08/31/2026

97 kids. 97 smiles. 97 opportunities to change what comes next.

This weekend, 97 children were given something every child deserves: the opportunity to receive the dental care they need before a small problem becomes a big one. Together, our volunteers and community partners provided $37,635 in care at no cost to their families.

But honestly? The dollar amount isn’t the part that gets us.

What gets us is that every single one of those 97 children was given the opportunity to establish a permanent medical home and dental home and left with their appointment for follow up care!

Because dentistry shouldn’t always be about waiting until something hurts.
It shouldn’t be about a child waking up with a toothache.
It shouldn’t be about an infection.
It shouldn’t be about an emergency room.
It shouldn’t be about fixing what could have been prevented.

It should be about prevention. Education. Early care. Healthy habits. And giving kids the chance to grow up without being afraid of the dentist.

That’s what made this weekend so special.

Behind every child was a volunteer who gave their time. A community partner who showed up. Someone who donated supplies, resources, space, or simply said, “Yes, we can help.”

And together, we didn’t just treat 97 children.

We helped open the door to a healthier future for 97 children.

This is what happens when a community comes together.

97 children.
$37,635 in donated care.
And hopefully… 97 fewer reasons to wait until something hurts.

08/15/2026

What an incredible Saturday!

Today, 16 people in our community are taking a step toward a healthier life because volunteers chose to give their time, their talents, and their hearts. These aren’t just patients, they’re our neighbors. They’re our friends. They’re members of our community who deserve care, compassion, and a healthier future.

A huge thank-you to Dr. Desravines for going above and beyond to help make this day possible. And to our pre-dental students who gave up their Saturday to serve others: thank you. Your willingness to show up, serve, and change lives, one person at a time, is truly inspiring.

We are so grateful for every person who gave their Saturday to make a difference. This is what community looks like. This is what compassion looks like. This is what changing lives looks like.

08/12/2026

Thank you to all of our volunteers who truly make a difference because Oral Health is Health!

When people think about emergency room diversion, they often picture primary care clinics treating illnesses before they become emergencies. But dental care plays an equally important role.