The CDA Foundation is partnering with Mending Kids to serve patients with special needs at an upcoming clinic in Long Beach on September 19. Mending Kids, founded in 2005, provides free life-saving surgical care to children worldwide, enlisting volunteer medical teams and supporting communities to become medically self-sustaining.
Patients with special healthcare needs sometimes can’t receive care in a traditional dental office because they require specialized equipment and operatories to accommodate certain mobility or physical challenges. Offices that do treat patients with special needs are often backlogged with significant waitlists, with many waiting up to two years to be seen. Volunteers at the Mending Kids clinic will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to patients who would otherwise face long delays in accessing essential dental treatment.
Clinic details
- Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Time: 6 a.m.–6 p.m. (depending on patient load)
- Location: Memorial Care Surgical Center – Long Beach
3833 Worsham Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90808
- Services needed: Oral exams, cleanings and urgent dental procedures including extractions, endodontic therapy and restorations
- Volunteers needed:California-licensed restorative dentists and oral surgeons
- Patient details: Approximately 10 individuals with special needs who require care under general anesthesia
This clinic will operate in four surgical suites with the support of donated equipment, including portable dental units and handheld X-ray units donated by the CDA Foundation.
Interested dental professionals should email clinic organizers Dr. Joan Otomo-Corgeland Isabelle Fox to learn more or sign up to volunteer.
“For individuals with special healthcare needs, dental care isn’t as simple as finding the nearest office,” said Isabelle Fox, executive director of Mending Kids. “Right now, families are waiting one to two years for an appointment, and many have to travel hours just to reach a clinic capable of treating them. This clinic is a critical step toward closing that gap and bringing basic dental care within reach for the people who need it most.”
Consider giving back as a volunteer and making a difference to patients with special needs.