North County students receive dental care in mobile clinic

VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Maryland Elementary School students were visited by a mobile dental clinic on Tuesday that provided accessible dental care.  

The clinic is part of Vista Community Clinic’s (VCC) A+ Teeth Program, an initiative to help students receive proper dental treatment. VCC’s mobile clinic is a 29-foot-long vehicle visiting students in Oceanside and Vista. 

Maryland Elementary Principal Renée Evans said that it is their goal to make sure that all of students’ needs are met, not only their educational ones. The Vista Unified School District (VUSD) partnered with the clinic, hoping to eliminate barriers to dental care, such as transportation.  

“You cannot learn if you have a toothache,” Evans said.  

VCC Chief Dental Officer Dr. Rebecca Cornille shared the A+ Teeth Mobile unit is at a school almost every day, including some weekends. She said that programs like this also help prevent long-term oral health issues. 

“We’re excited to continue expanding our services and make a lasting difference in the lives of students across the district,” Cornille said. 

Children who report feeling tooth pain are 4x more likely to have lower grades than children without the pain, according to the American Journal of Public Health. The clinic aims to address barriers facing children and their families.  

“You cannot learn if you have a fever and you don’t have medical care, you cannot learn if you have social-emotional needs and they haven’t been addressed,” Evans said. “So part of our goal is to have all of those resources available to our families, and VCC is part of that work.” 

Staff believe that clinics like this can also help make visits to the dentist less intimating for children. Luiz Lopez, a care coordinator with VCC of 14 years, said the unique experience and friendly staff helps ease fears patients may experience. 

“Since we have been coming to the schools, they know us,” Lopez said. “We work with them from Pre-K through middle and even high school, and they know us. They see me. Even if they see me [outside of a school], they will say, ‘Hey, you’re the dentist.’”  

During the 2024-2025 school year, the VCC mobile clinic examined 627 students across 20 schools in the Vista school district. The clinic also provided 291 sealants to students and provided 265 referrals.  

“This program is especially vital for those students who might otherwise have difficulty accessing dental care,” Cornille added. “Together, Vista leaders and organizations are ensuring that every child has the opportunity to lead a healthier life.”