CAMP HILL, Pa. (Sept. 4, 2025) — To help get their school year off to a healthy start, 37 underserved youth received free dental care on Aug. 9 at the Allan Saxe Dental Clinic in Arlington, Texas. Volunteer dentists, hygienists and Texas A&M University dental students provided exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings and other services.
The annual youth dental event, which was hosted by United Concordia Dental and Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex, serves youth ages 5-15 from low-income families in the area. In addition to dental services, the clinic offered some fun activities for the kids, including meet-and-greets with and signed baseballs from Texas Rangers’ alumni Yovani Gallardo and José Guzmán, and Rangers Captain, the team’s mascot. Students received goody bags with coloring books, crayons and dental care items to help maintain good oral health at home.
Without regular preventive care, infections in the mouth can fester, causing pain and oral health problems that can significantly impact a student’s ability to learn, eat and speak. In fact, more than 34 million school hours are lost each year due to emergency dental visits according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also found that children aged 6 to 9 from lower-income households are more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities than those from higher-incomes.
For many Texas residents, getting seen by a dentist may already be a challenge. The latest Health Resources & Services Administration statistics report the state has 274 dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), ranking it the fifth highest nationwide for its limited access to dental care.
“We’ve been working with Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex for the past 24 years on this clinic. And we’re proud to continue to serve underserved youth in the greater Arlington region with critical dental services,” said Anthony Warren, DDS, dental director, United Concordia Dental, who’s volunteered at and helped coordinate the clinic for the past six years. “Regular dental checkups and good hygiene practices are essential in preventing most oral health issues. For students, taking care of their teeth and gums translates to a healthier, pain-free and more focused school year.”
In appreciation of their support, United Concordia hosted volunteers at a Rangers’ game against the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 24.
For more information about United Concordia, visit UnitedConcordia.com. Sign up to get the latest company news.
Contact:
Suzanne Cibotti
United Concordia Dental
717-260-7549
suzanne.cibotti@ucci.com
Leilyn Perri
Highmark Health
717-302-4243
leilyn.perri@highmarkhealth.org
