In 2019, before Alex and Tim Otto opened the first location of their dental practice Kids Tooth Team in Buda, the couple received their 501(c)(3) for Kids Tooth Team Outreach in an effort to give back to the community.
While Alex was completing her pediatric residency in Alaska, the two identified geography as one of the main barriers in access to care and came across the same issue in Texas.
“Go outside of any of the major cities, ... and it’s like you’re going into a third-world country in some areas as far as access to care, access to nutrition, access to other health services,” Tim said.
By December 2021, the Ottos’ dream came to fruition when the St. David’s Foundation donated a mobile dental clinic so they could drive to rural, underserved communities and provide free dental care.
“We had this idea in our heads, but without this physical donation, there’s no way that we would be able to go do everything that we can do at these schools,” Alex said. “90% of what we can do in my office we can do in the van.”
They hit the road almost immediately and began providing free dental care in early 2022 to children in Hays and Caldwell counties.
They return to schools every six months to follow up with the children they’ve served.
“We’re not just treating the kids and hope everything goes well. ... We’re coming back every six months so they have a reliable schedule of care,” Tim said.
Outreach days are some of Alex’s favorite days of the year, she said, but it’s not always feasible, so they have enlisted the help of other dentists in the area.
“It’s a way that they give back to the community, and the kids are so excited we’re there,” Alex said.
Did you know?
Children ages 5-19 from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities compared to children who come from higher-income families, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of San Marcos CISD’s student body is considered economically disadvantaged.
Dental Services Delivered
Though the Kids Tooth Team Outreach van is only 40 feet long and on wheels, about 90% of the services offered at a brick-and-mortar dentist office can still be done there.
The nonprofit offers:
• Preventive care: diagnostics and prevention treatment key to long-term oral health
• Restorative care: minor restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns
• Treatment plans: plans to be followed up on by the nonprofit or community partners
• Dental education: providing information and education about oral health, aiding in preventive care
Get involved
The nonprofit is always seeking to add dentists, dental assistants and predental students to its roster of volunteers.
Kids Tooth Team Outreach is also majorly funded by the Ottos, and donations are always welcome.
Kids Tooth Team Outreach
www.kidstoothteamoutreach.org
