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Our mouth is the gateway to our body. The foods we eat and the way we care for our mouth can determine our overall health and wellbeing. Poor oral healthcare can lower the quality of life of older adults. This is why it is important to be aware of how oral health problems arise and…
Patients at the Senior Dental Center are like family, and hearing about their treatment experiences helps us understand the impact our services have in each one of their lives. I did not know that I had found dental heaven when I stumbled upon the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center. This is far and…
Shedding light on the oral health concerns of older adults is now more essential than ever. In the United States, someone turns 65 every 10 seconds. By 2030, it is expected that 20% of the U.S. population will be older adults. Addressing the nuances of geriatric dental health will help dentists be prepared to provide…
According to the International Diabetes Federation, 1 in 10 adults are now living with diabetes, estimating an astonishing 537 million adults around the world! As many of us know, high levels of sugar in our blood harms our kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes and other organs. But did you know that it also makes your teeth…
Age-Friendly Grant Awarded to the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center It is with tremendous pleasure that we would like to announce that the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center has been awarded $30,000 from The San Diego Foundation’s Age-Friendly Communities Program! This grant will support our continuous efforts to enhance the lives…
Easy Tips to Maintaining a Healthy Mouth! October is Dental Hygiene Month! We are taking this opportunity to help raise awareness on the importance of good oral health. Keeping a healthy mouth and smile during our lifetime not only reduces the need for extensive dental work as we age, but it also helps decrease the…
“I honestly didn’t have the money…They took care of me. They made sure I was safe,” were the words patient Anthony Arriaga used to describe his experience after receiving treatment at the Senior Dental Center. His care, and that of hundreds of more seniors has been possible thanks to a grant of $46,000 from The…
What a wonderful feeling it is when your teeth are recently brushed and you feel that cool, minty freshness expelling as you speak! We would hate to reveal that our earlier meal was heavy on garlic or onions! But having not-so fresh breath could be an indicator of much more than just what you had…
Putting the needs of older adults in California, and nation-wide, is a priority for us here at The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center. We believe that it is essential that all adults who rely on Medicaid for their health care, are able to receive the comprehensive dental coverage they need. Poor oral health…
It has been a little over a year since our lives were turned upside down when the COVID-19 pandemic took over the way our community interacts. We have had to adapt to new ways of supporting each other to find the strength and resilience that is necessary to keep united and strong. The power of…
Image Source: http://nphw.org/About-NPHW/Thank-You Every year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) develops a campaign to bring together our nation in observance of National Public Health Week (NPHW). It is a full week aimed at recognizing and highlighting issues that are important to improving our nation’s health. Its primary goal is to dedicate this time…
The importance of personal dental care is something that should never be taken lightly. As we age, this becomes a crucial factor in our overall health, as it contributes significantly to our quality of life and general well-being. Be proud of your mouth! The FDI World Dental Federation has declared March 20th as World Oral…
The Senior Dental Center (SDC) is pleased to announce a recent grant award of $1,000, from the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO). With the grant provided by CECO, the SDC was able to purchase toothbrushes and gum stimulators, allowing us to provide low-income seniors with the resources they need to properly care for…
Information Last Updated on August 28, 2020 We are excited to announce that The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center is now seeing patients again in our office as of August 2020, in order to provide much-needed care to people in our community. We are also continuing to provide virtual dental appointments to patients…
Information posted on September 1, 2020 To our valued senior patients, We hope you and your loved ones are doing well. The last few months have been challenging for our communities. Nevertheless, as the current situation begins to improve slowly, we have reopened our offices since July 15th and we are working towards returning to…
As we age, a focus on our health becomes more important every day. September has been named the Month of Healthy Aging; a reminder to us that growing older is a beautiful process. The Senior Dental Center would like to encourage you to implement physical, mental, and social wellness practices into your daily routine. These…
We have officially launched our Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program in collaboration with NYU Langone Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Residency Program. This residency program prepares dentists who have an interest in community dentistry with a broad range of didactic instruction and practical experience in a diverse setting – in our case, high-quality geriatric oral…
Gary & Mary West program provides needed services during COVID-19 pandemic Written By: Lauren J. Mapp Date Posted: June 1, 2020 Having a toothache is never pleasant. Having one as a senior during the global COVID-19 pandemic, when many dental offices are shuttered, compounds the situation. When 70-year-old Irma Hampton was suffering from severe pain…
Dentist — runs two nonprofit community dental clinics, in downtown San Diego and San Marcos By: U-T STAFF Post Date: June 4, 2020 Please describe how you’re helping the community at this time. “As it was necessary to suspend our in-person oral health services, my team and I quickly leveraged and bolstered our telehealth and teledentistry…
Older adults in California need our help. California has recently proposed to reduce adult dental benefits down to 2014 levels. If the reductions in adult benefits are approved society will undergo long term consequences on their overall health along with limiting their access to services! The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center has signed…
Aired: May 13, 2020 Dr. Karen Becerra and KOGO interviewer, Maryilyn Hyder discuss the level of vulnerability seniors are undergoing during the COVID-19 pandemic and what the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center is doing to address the needs of the seniors in the San Diego community. The Senior Dental Center is offering Teledentistry…
By: Jessica Brodkin Webb A public statement from the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental center says they have temporarily closed the low-income dental clinic that serves seniors across San Diego county but are offering teledentistry and are in the process of preparing 5,000 home care oral hygiene kits to be distributed through delivery by…
What can I do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19? There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:…
SAN DIEGO – Jan. 29, 2020 – The nonprofit Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center, an organization dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality oral healthcare to low-income seniors in California, announced today that it has appointed Donald M. Casey, Jr. to its board of directors. Casey is CEO of Dentsply Sirona, the world’s largest manufacturer…
By: Dr. Karen Becerra The stats are alarming: Nearly 1 in 5 seniors over the age of 65 have no teeth, 2 in 3 have gum disease, and 1 in 5 have untreated cavities. Dental health is a hidden health crisis for seniors in our community which has far-reaching impacts on their overall wellness. Studies have…
The Senior Dental Center was recently selected to receive the first-ever grant from the Johnson & Johnson Western Region Retiree Association (JJWRRA) in support of our efforts to provide accessible, high-quality oral healthcare to vulnerable seniors. JJWRRA provides grants that support Elder Health, which focuses on maintaining a healthy body and mind, independence, and dignity for…
The Senior Dental Center is pleased to announce a grant award from the San Marcos Community Foundation. With these funds we purchased supplies to make same-day crowns for our patients in-house. This reduces the number of visits needed and eliminates laboratory fees for our patients. Additional grant funds supplied an Apple iPad with the…
CEO and Dental Director Dr. Karen speaking with KUSI Logan Byrnes, July 10, 2019 Dr. Karen was featured on KUSI News sharing 6 oral health tips for maintaining a bright and healthy smile this summer. Unfortunately, poor dental health is a silent epidemic among Americans. In fact, more than 1 in 4 adults in the…
This month is Plastic Free July, a campaign created by The Plastic Free Foundation to bring awareness to our high consumption of single-use plastics. Each year, millions of people around the world take on the challenge of refusing various plastic products such as plastic bags, water bottles, straws, and even oral care products. According to…
San Diego, Calif. – June 26, 2019 – The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center in Downtown San Diego was recognized for their innovative dental care for seniors receiving the 2019 Live Well San Diego Oral Health Champion Award. The award honors the exceptional achievements, outstanding community efforts, and contributions that have advanced oral…
By Karen Becerra, DDS, MPH While people might prioritize physical and mental well-being, many may not put the words “dental” and “health” next to each other in their minds. “Dental work is cosmetic,” they might say, as they put off seeing the dentist for another year. “Everyone has problems with their teeth. Besides, my insurance…
The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center celebrated World Oral Health Day on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 by sending a few tips to help adults take better care of their oral health. To learn more and see what the Senior Dental Center is up to, click here. What is World Oral Health Day? World…
The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center (SDC) was honored to receive a grant award at the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization’s (CECO) Awards Breakfast on March 19, 2019. The $8,059 grant provided by CECO will allow SDC to purchase dental autoclave (sterilization) equipment that reduces the time needed to sterilize instruments from…
Dr. Karen Becerra and patient, Annie J. discuss how the Gary & Mary West Senior Dental Center strives to enable seniors to properly care for and maintain their oral health through education and dental services before it becomes more painful, complicated and costly. Visit the KSON Radio for more…
By Mario A. Cortez At a dental clinic located inside Fourth Avenue’s Serving Seniors center in downtown San Diego, Karen Becerra is fighting back against a silent epidemic affecting some of our most vulnerable neighbors. “Many seniors are living with limited incomes and they…
California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat running for governor, visits the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, the Serving Seniors location in downtown San Diego during a campaign stop, May 31, 2018.
The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center, will host “Tooth Wisdom: Get Smart About Your Mouth,” a free dental health workshop for low-income seniors developed by Oral Health America on June 19th.
Donated Health Care Products Will Help Expand Access to Care for Underserved Seniors in San Diego San Diego, CA – March 6, 2018 – The nonprofit Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center announced today that it has received a donation of health care products under a grant from the Henry Schein Cares Global Product…
Low income seniors come forward with significant dental issues after years of neglect, as nonprofit community dental center marks first year of operation. SAN DIEGO – NOV. 16, 2017 – In its first year of operation, the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center, a nonprofit community dental center based in San Diego, reports…
Alex Maddalena, 79, at an appointment with Dr. Karen Becerra of the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center in San Diego. Mr. Maddalena went to the clinic in January for his first check-up in five years. Credit Carlos Moreno for The New York Times Alex Maddalena had gone five years without seeing a dentist….
Greetings, I am pleased to share exciting news. Today our founders, philanthropists Gary and Mary West, announced the grand opening of the nonprofit Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center dedicated to serving low-income seniors in downtown San Diego. This is truly an exciting milestone and one that is especially meaningful to West Health and…
