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Future Smiles nonprofit provides on-campus dental services for CCSD students
Summary
Future Smiles, a local nonprofit, operates the Women’s Philanthropy Dental Wellness Center on the Elaine Winn Elementary campus and provides mobile on‑site dental care for students in the Clark County School District, serving Medicaid and uninsured children, officials said.
Future Smiles, a Las Vegas nonprofit that delivers dental care to underserved students, operates the Women’s Philanthropy Dental Wellness Center on the Elaine Winn Elementary School campus and provides a mobile unit to deliver on-site services at Clark County School District schools, a representative said.
At the Feb. 18 meeting preliminary remarks the Future Smiles representative said the nonprofit was founded in February 2009 by three dental hygienists and that its clinic offers services similar to a dental office — digital X‑rays, cleanings, fillings, minor extractions and other basic restorative care. The center’s clinical staff includes a licensed dentist in Nevada, Dr. Erica Nieto, the representative said.
The nonprofit balances care for children covered by Medicaid and children who are low‑income and uninsured. According to the representative, about 50% of students they serve have Medicaid coverage; the remainder are low‑income and uninsured. The organization receives support from private philanthropy and local foundations and runs a mobile dental unit that can serve students on campus. The representative encouraged eligible parents to sign children up for Medicaid where appropriate to expand access to medical, dental and vision services.
Why it matters: Oral health is tied to overall child health and school success, the representative said. On‑site school dental services reduce barriers to care for students who otherwise have trouble accessing appointments and transport.
Details the representative provided - Founded: February 2009 by three dental hygienists. - Location: Women’s Philanthropy Dental Wellness Center, Elaine Winn Elementary School campus (serves CCSD students). - Services: Digital X‑rays, cleanings, fillings, minor extractions, restorative work and care through a licensed dentist (Dr. Erica Nieto). - Patient mix: About 50% with Medicaid; about 50% low‑income/uninsured (representative’s estimate). - Mobile unit: Available to provide on‑site dental services to other CCSD schools. - Website: futuresmiles.net (as provided by the speaker).
The remarks were part of the meeting’s opening community and district highlights prior to the trustees’ superintendent search discussion.
