In Skid Row, many residents face barriers to dental care, including high costs, limited providers, discrimination, and competing survival needs. For those living on the streets, oral health often becomes a low priority amid more immediate concerns like food and shelter.
To address this, the USC Dental Clinic, located inside the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles, offers free dental care to the homeless community. The clinic aims to give patients not only oral health but also the confidence to improve their life circumstances.
Dwayne Lewis, a patient at the clinic, knows this transformation firsthand. Before experiencing homelessness, Lewis lost all his teeth due to deteriorating health and past drug use. “I had to put my hand over my mouth, had to talk with my head down, or sometimes decline speaking because I had no teeth. It was a mental struggle,” he said.
While staying at the Union Rescue Mission shelter, Lewis discovered the USC Dental Clinic on the floor above. The clinic provides free dentures, and he immediately enrolled. Today, Lewis has a full set of dentures for both his upper and lower teeth, which he says has completely changed his daily life. “When I go out in public, I get great compliments. People think they are my real teeth,” he said.
Dentures are usually expensive, often costing thousands of dollars—an amount Lewis could never afford, even after 20 years working in construction. He recalls that a $5,000 dental bill had pushed him toward homelessness.
Cases like Lewis’ inspired the USC School of Dentistry to partner with the Union Rescue Mission more than 25 years ago.
The clinic now provides a range of services, from basic cleanings and fillings to complex procedures like root canals, extractions, and dentures.
Clinic Director Dr. Medhi Mohammadi emphasizes that dental care is often out of reach for those living on the street. “Many don’t know where they’re going to get their next meal or where they’re going to sleep. Oral hygiene becomes a low priority. Over time, teeth decay, and gum disease develops,” he said.
Hygiene maintenance is another challenge, as many patients lack basic tools like a toothbrush or toothpaste, or even a place to brush. The clinic also serves as a training ground for USC dental students, who are supervised by licensed faculty.
“USC is just three miles south of Skid Row, so this is part of our community,” Mohammadi said. “We want to care for our neighborhood while teaching students how to serve the underserved.”
For students like Somkene Okafor-Okwuego, volunteering at the clinic offers vital insight into patient care. “We see firsthand the challenges of lacking access to care,” she said. “Empathy is a huge part of our job. It’s not just about hand skills and knowledge—it’s about who we can provide care to.”
Okafor-Okwuego has volunteered at the clinic since her freshman year and is now completing her senior clinical rotation. She credits the experience with teaching adaptability and quick decision-making. “I see patients with cosmetic needs, pain issues, or functional concerns. It forces me to adapt quickly,” she said.
Dr. Mohammadi himself trained at the clinic before becoming director and says witnessing the clinic’s daily impact motivates his work.
Now 64, Lewis is back on his feet. With his new teeth, he has a job, a bank account, and the confidence to interact with the world. “I can go to the bank, smile at the teller, and say, ‘Thank you,’” he said.