Columbia’s Mobile Dental Program Receives New York State Grant

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $294,115 grant from New York State to support its school-based dental program, strengthening the College’s long-standing commitment to improving access to oral health care for children in Washington Heights and Harlem.

The funding, administered through the New York State Department of Health’s School-Based Health Center–Dental Initiative, will help offset the operational costs of CDM’s mobile

dental van, which brings comprehensive preventive and restorative dental services directly to public schools and Head Start programs in underserved communities.

The mobile program currently serves 13 public schools in Washington Heights and Harlem and visits multiple Head Start locations twice each year, according to Amy Herbert, DDS, MPH, assistant professor of Dental Medicine and director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at CDM.

“Many families face significant barriers to accessing routine dental care, especially when parents cannot take time off from work,” said Dr. Herbert. “By seeing children at school, we’re able to provide preventive care early and identify issues that may need follow-up, without placing an added burden on families.”

Children who participate in the program receive comprehensive dental examinations, including radiographs, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants. The mobile team also provides limited restorative care when appropriate and refers children to CDM’s clinics for more complex treatment needs. Services are provided at no cost to families, regardless of insurance status.

The new state funding will be used to help cover general maintenance of the mobile unit, staffing costs, and specialized supplies required for mobile dental. While the program has historically relied on philanthropic grants, including its original support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in the 1990s, CDM has increasingly shouldered the cost of maintaining the van in recent years.

In addition to serving the community, the mobile dental program plays a vital educational role. All CDM predoctoral students rotate through the van during their third year, gaining firsthand experience with community-based care and the challenges many populations face in accessing oral health services.

“For many students, this rotation is eye-opening,” Dr. Herbert noted. “They begin to understand that dental care is not equally accessible to everyone, and that for some families, going to the dentist is seen as a privilege rather than a routine part of health care.”

Through this renewed investment from New York State, CDM will continue to expand access to essential dental services, support healthier outcomes for children, and provide future dentists with an understanding of community engagement and health equity.