Sequoia High School’s Dental Clinic will return to campus March 11, continuing its mission to provide students with accessible dental care that accepts Medi-Cal. The clinic first began operating during the 2023-24 school year after teachers reached out to Andrez Guevara, Sequoia Union High School District’s Health and Safety Project Manager, about expanding resources for students, particularly dental care options that accept Medi-Cal.
According to Kidsdata.org, on average more than 30% of San Mateo County residents relied on Medi-Cal in 2023.
As Guevara researched local options, he discovered a major gap in access.
“I realized that not a lot of dental clinics nearby have open enrollment for Medi-Cal recipients,” Guevara said. “It’s very difficult to find a clinic that will see them because they have a cap on how many patients they’ll take with Medi-Cal.”
In his search, Guevara found Big Smiles, a company that provides no-cost dentist services to schools. According to the Big Smiles website, the program was founded in 1997 by Dr. Marcy Borofsky and Dr. Margo Woll after they noticed families struggled to secure dental appointments and many children were not receiving follow-up treatment. Today, Big Smiles partners with many schools across the country.
In order for the clinic to visit a school, at least 15 students must express interest. Once that threshold is met, licensed dentists, often local practitioners who volunteer their time, provide services on campus.
The services mirror those of any established dental clinic in the area, including checkups, X-rays, fillings and even tooth extractions.
The clinic visits twice each school year, once in the fall and once in the spring, aligning with the recommended six month interval between dental visits during the 2025-26 school year.
The program is open to Sequoia students and is held on campus, eliminating transportation barriers and the need for families to take off work. Students at Woodside High School and Menlo Atherton High School also have access to the service.
Additionally, the days the clinic operates is dependent on the amount of applications received.
“We’ve done three days at certain points because we had so many kids apply,” Guevara said.
Overall, Sequoia’s dental clinic is a wonderful opportunity for students to receive accessible, no-cost dental care while reducing financial and logistical barriers to maintaining their oral health.