Dental Center of Stamford

In November 1997, an ad-hoc committee of concerned citizens and health agencies in Lower Fairfield County met to answer the demonstrated need for oral health care for more than 11,000 underserved residents. The Committee raised operating and seed money in order to open the Dental Center of Stamford on September 20, 2000.

The Center began with two operatories, one part-time dentist, a full-time dental hygienist and two support staff. Since then it has added a third operatory. The Center employs a clinic director, a full time dentist, a part-time dentist, a full time dental hygienist, a dental assistant, receptionist and four part-time support staff. All employees are bi-lingual.
The Center provides general oral health care for people from infancy to our oldest patient, who is 98 years of age. It works with area dentists to obtain services for dental procedures that it cannot provide.

In addition, the Center promotes oral health in the community through health fairs, speaking engagements and collaborations with various agencies throughout the area.The Center sees approximately 1200 patients per year in over 4000 dental visits. Approximately half of the patients receive Medicaid or Husky. For those who are uninsured, the Center offers a sliding-fee-scale.
The Center is a core member the Stamford Oral Health Collaborative with Student Health Services and the Department of Health & Social Services, City of Stamford. The goal of this collaborative is to develop a seamless system of integrated oral health services for all Stamford Children.

The Center is particularly pleased to have started a unique pilot program called "Healthy Beginnings". This program will provide oral health education, screenings and preventive services to children aged 0-4 and their mothers at Stamford Health System's Pediatric clinic and Stamford Health Department's WIC Program. Based on the success of this program, it will be expanded to other pre-school sites and the OB/GYN Clinic at Stamford Hospital to provide pre-natal oral health care and education. Portable dental equipment, which was donated by St. John's Foundation, will be utilized to bring services to these various sites, thereby reducing one "access barrier" to oral health care.
The Center expects that by initiating this program to provide early intervention and preventive measures to young children and pre-natal women, it will significantly decrease the prevalence of oral disease and improve the overall health of our community.

For more information, contact the Stamford Dental Center at (203) 969-0802 or dentalcenterstam@aol.com