Pacific Center for Special Care

The Pacific Center for Special Care is an organization within the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry committed to improving the oral health of underserved people on the local, state and federal level. The Pacific Center, directed by Dr. Paul Glassman, has created best-practice models of, and advocates for, improved access to dental care for anyone who faces challenges receiving oral health services through the traditional oral health care system. This includes groups and individuals who have difficulty maintaining good oral health or accessing oral health services because of medical, physical, social, economic, and geographic conditions.

The mission of the Pacific Center for Special Care is to:

• Improve the oral health of underserved people.
• Reform the oral health care system to be responsive to the circumstances and needs of people from diverse backgrounds, and with diverse conditions and special needs.
• Improve awareness of barriers to and solutions for ensuring good oral health for underserved people among oral health, general health, and social services professionals and advocacy, educational, and government organizations.