The Dental Foundation of Oregon

10/27/2025

Grateful for the dedicated OHSU dental students who voluntarily brought care to a vulnerable population on a blustery Portland Saturday on the Tooth Taxi!

Said DS3 Brandon who coordinated the event: "My first two years of dental school, I didn't volunteer as much as I wanted. I realize how valuable it is to learn on real patients and the importance of giving back. The lower income population needs help and it feels good to help."

OHSU Dental Clinics Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

10/21/2025

The dentist you have as a child plays a huge role in how you feel about oral health care as an adult, and our Tooth Taxi team takes that duty seriously.

Says Dental Assistant Steven: "I want kids to feel comfortable going to the dentist and to be able to smile again."

10/07/2025

We are grateful to have been selected for this year's Willamette Week Give!Guide!

If you're planning to make a gift on behalf of Oregon's vulnerable young people who need access to dental care through the Tooth Taxi, you'll be eligible for prizes if you give on certain days.

See our flier below for more information on the "big" days to give, and be ready for the giving site to open on November 1.

10/03/2025

09/25/2025

Can you imagine never having experienced a dentist visit? Not knowing the importance of brushing your teeth and/or experiencing that clean feeling of just having had a thorough cleaning and flouride?

That's the norm for many children we see on the Tooth Taxi, particularly at locations where young people face housing and food insecurity and have no resources to see a dentist regularly, if at all.

"The Tooth Taxi is a wonderful option for our students," says Community Transitional School Principal Cheryl Bickle. "Our children don't see the dentist. And even though they know they're probably going to have extractions, they are so happy when the Tooth Taxi is going to come. They know the end result, and they love the Tooth Taxi."

Community Transitional School

09/21/2025

What animal has the most teeth? How many baby teeth do humans have? How many times a day should people brush their teeth? *

A Q & A leading to Plunko and prizes, golfing with giant teeth, and--of course--toothbrushes and toothpaste were all part of the fun and freebies shared in the community recently, with the Tooth Taxi team providing oral health education to 100+ young people and their families at the Rip City Rally in Gresham on Sept. 19, and celebrating fall with dental professionals at the Oregon Dental Association's Fall Tailgate on Sept. 18.

* Answers to top questions: Snails, 20, two--respectively.

Oregon Dental

09/15/2025

We are pleased to announce that The Dental Foundation of Oregon's Tooth Taxi is one of the nonprofit healthcare organizations to which readers of the Willamette Week Give Guide can donate this holiday season!

So if you decide to make an end-of-year gift for children's education and oral care on the Tooth Taxi, you'll be eligible on certain days for many fun prizes like trips, books, beverages, and gift cards, while making a meaningful difference for children and young people in Oregon. Stay tuned for more details! 🎈🎈🎈

Willamette Week

09/09/2025

It's hard to take care of one's teeth regularly when one is living on the streets with only a backpack as a belonging. That's why we were especially honored to support 18 young people recently at HomePlate Youth Services in Beaverton who are working toward structure and routine in their lives.

Said one grateful recipient after their Tooth Taxi care: “I have so much other stuff going on that taking care of my teeth wasn’t a priority. But my gums had been bleeding for a while so I knew it was time to get to the dentist. It’s nice when there are services are out there to help because it’s so hard to get insurance.

“My teeth feel really clean; I’ve been brushing them a lot since my appointment.” HomePlate

09/02/2025

With tooth decay a continued concern in Oregon, particularly rural areas, the Tooth Taxi is much-needed for children's dental education and care.

More than 64 percent of the children and young people screened on the Tooth Taxi in 2024 had some form of decay, with 14 percent having urgent needs. Sometimes, children present with serious decay in all of their primary teeth as young as age six, says Tooth Taxi Program Manager Carrie Peterson, as shown in the photo.

"We hope to educate children and that habits can be changed so better care is taken of their permanent teeth," said Peterson.

08/27/2025

It's almost September, and with school starting again, the Tooth Taxi will be hitting the road to partner with elementary, middle, and high schools all over Oregon that request our dental services for their students.

So far in 2025, the Tooth Taxi has driven 3,317 miles--that's a lot of gas! If you'd like to contribute to the Tooth Taxi's gas fund to keep us on the road, we'd be grateful.

Go to https://smileonoregon.kindful.com/ to donate.

08/20/2025

We love how our Tooth Taxi team provides dental services with dignity! With care led by Dr. Davis, the Tooth Taxi team tends to every child with respect and compassion, ensuring their autonomy and comfort throughout their time on the mobile dental clinic.

Says Dr. Davis: "If you're hurting all the time, you're not going to do well in life. If we can take the pain away so kids can stay in school and succeed, that's a good thing."

08/13/2025

It's hard to prioritize visiting the dentist when you're hungry or don't have a safe place to sleep. And, sadly, an increasing number of children and young people being cared for on the Tooth Taxi are reporting food and housing insecurity--such numbers are higher in the first six months of 2025 than in all of 2024. This post is a thank you to all the great folks out there offering compassionate and efficient access to services that will help children and young people get what they need for a healthy start to life. ❤️ HomePlate