SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The new El Dorado Community Health Center Dental Clinic is now open in South Lake Tahoe. To celebrate, they are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. They are located at 3443 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 2, in South Lake Tahoe.

Meet the dental team, tour the office, and enjoy appetizers, beer and wine. To RSVP, send an email to marketing@edchc.org.

El Dorado Community Health Centers (EDCHC), in collaboration with local Medi-Cal managed care plan Mountain Valley Health Plan, and the El Dorado County (EDC) Public Health Division, is opened the new dental clinic in the Bijou Shopping Center on October 20, 2025. Prospective patients should call 530-497-5016.

Access and utilization of oral health care services during pregnancy, childhood, and throughout the lifespan is important because the consequences of poor oral health can have a lifelong impact on overall health and well-being. To improve the quality of life for our South Lake Tahoe community, it is crucial to establish a local dental clinic that can serve as a dental home for those whose options are limited by financial or insurance constraints.

Residents of the South Lake Tahoe, particularly those who are low-income or underinsured, face significant barriers to accessing dental care. In 2024, the passing of the region’s only dental provider who accepted Medi-Cal insurance compounded these challenges, leaving many residents without local access to dental services.

According to the 2023-2024 Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment, nearly 20 percent of South Lake Tahoe students had untreated dental cavities requiring treatment, and nearly 10 percent had urgent dental needs requiring immediate care. The result of this ongoing dental shortage is a growing prevalence of severe dental health conditions across the region.

Many parents and guardians struggle with transportation issues, financial constraints, and the inability to take time off work, causing families to have to choose between their health and income. When families prioritize their health, children are often forced to miss full school days for dental appointments in distant communities such as Placerville, negatively affecting their education.

El Dorado Community Health Centers, Mountain Valley Health Plan, and EDC Public Health developed a partnership that addresses the urgent need for access to oral health services for California’s Medi-Cal program recipients.

The new South Lake Tahoe dental clinic will provide a local solution, alleviating transportation and financial barriers while offering high-quality preventive and restorative dental care. The new dental clinic in South Lake Tahoe builds on the successful partnership between EDC Public Health and EDCHC, which currently operates the El Dorado Smiles Dental Van, providing mobile dental services to
schools throughout the region. The expanded services at the new clinic will enhance these efforts by offering a permanent dental care facility for residents and ensuring quicker access to follow-up care for students in need.

The new clinic will feature up to seven dental stations, initially accommodating approximately 200 patients per month, with the goal of expanding capacity to serve 400 patients per month.

It will be easily accessible by bus, and on foot, and offers ample parking opportunities. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the clinic will be on ground level, ensuring accessibility for patients with disabilities. To better serve the community, the clinic has hired bilingual staff and uses language assistance technology to provide services to those who speak other languages as well. By prioritizing preventive care and reducing barriers, the clinic aims to enhance the quality of life for countless community members across the region.

This collaboration between El Dorado Community Health Centers, Mountain Valley Health Plan, and El Dorado County Public Health reflects a shared commitment to improving access to oral health care and addressing disparities in the South Lake Tahoe region. The new dental clinic will serve all age groups, including adults and seniors, and is centrally located to provide easy access to local residents.

EDCHC’s new dental clinic will provide exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, and limited root canals for both children and adults. It will provide a Sliding Fee Discount program for those who qualify and will accept Medi-Cal Dental insurance. By prioritizing preventive care and reducing barriers, the clinic aims to
enhance the quality of life for countless community members across the region.