When Cheryl Martinez entered an addiction recovery program in May last year, one of her first calls was to Ms. Darlene.
Martinez had just been released from jail and placed in a North County recovery center after decades of battling substance abuse. During a recent relapse, she lost her dentures. She immediately thought of Darlene McCarthy, the clinic coordinator at Cura Smiles, a dental clinic in City Heights that had given her a set of dentures in 2022.
“The smile is the most important thing,” Martinez said. “For a while, I didn’t feel like I could fit into society without it.”
Cura Smiles quickly booked her for a new appointment. The clinic offers free dental care to people without insurance—many of whom are low-income, unhoused, or in recovery.
Since opening in 2017, Cura Smiles has helped hundreds of clients like Martinez. The clinic recently received a major boost: $60,000 in unrestricted grant funding and more than $63,000 in equipment donations from several local and regional philanthropic groups. The support included new dental chairs and other vital tools.
Located inside the Mid-City Church of the Nazarene, Cura Smiles operates two to three days a week and has four dental operatories. Its staff includes 26 volunteer dentists and four dental hygienists. They provide cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dentures at no cost to qualifying patients.
For those without dental insurance—or with limited coverage—Cura Smiles fills critical gaps. Medicare does not cover dental care, and while Medi-Cal does, it only provides dentures once every five years.
“Our clients are people who haven’t been able to prioritize their oral health,” said Christine Passmore, executive director of Cura Smiles. “We need to help because oral health is essential for overall well-being.”
Poor oral health is linked to serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Research shows that people in marginalized communities face the highest barriers to dental care, including cost and limited access.
The recent donations are helping the clinic grow and expand its services. Over the past year, it has increased its focus on providing dentures.
But for Martinez and many others, the work goes beyond dental procedures.
After more than 20 years of struggling with addiction, Martinez says her new dentures gave her the confidence to rebuild her life. Now sober for over a year, she has moved into permanent housing in Escondido and spends time with her grandchildren.
“I’m able to participate in my life today,” she said. “And a big part of that is because I am able to smile.”