Dallas County Commissioners recognize College of Dentistry and other local dental providers

Pictured are Dr. Lily Garcia, dean; Mireya Zuvieta of Los Barrios Unidos Pediatric Dentistry Clinic; Dallas County Commissioners Theresa Daniel and Andy Sommerman; Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins; and Dallas County Commissioners John Wiley Price and Dr. Elba Garcia.

In honor of National Dentist Day on March 6, Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia (District 4), a dentist herself, led a resolution earlier this week to name the day National Dentist’s Day in Dallas County. College of Dentistry Lily T. Garcia, dean, thanked commissioners for the honor and reminded them that “oral health is the gateway to total health.”

Dallas College Dental Hygiene Clinic, Los Barrios Unidos Pediatric Dentistry Clinic and UT Southwestern Medical Center were honored, too. In her resolution, Commissioner Garcia noted that an estimated 11 million Texans don’t have regular visits to dentists – an indication of significant barriers to care. In Dallas County, a single dentist serves about 1,070 patients per year.