Dental Center

The Dental Center is open each Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and serves low income students, families, adults and seniors in the Pomona Valley area.  Referrals for students are coordinated through health office personnel in Pomona and Claremont Unified School Districts or by calling the Dental Center.  Appointments for adult and senior patients can also be made by calling the Dental Center office at 909-629-6142, or by visiting the Dental Center website at dentalcenter.alpv.org.

Dental Center History

After consultation with school nurses in Pomona Unified School District, a new focus was determined for Assistance League of Pomona Valley philanthropic programs. In 1986, the dental needs of elementary aged children were astronomical. In many schools, low-income, uninsured families outnumbered those who could provide full dental care.

Chapter members met with local dentists, and spearheaded by Dr. John McGwire, DDS, the Dental Center was created. The old parish house was redesigned, equipment purchased and volunteer dentists agreed to staff on a monthly rotating basis. Doors opened in the spring of 1987 providing 92 treatments prior to the end of the school year.

Since 1987-1988, the Dental Center has moved from volunteer rotating dentists to a paid staff. Our first hired dentist was Dr. Anderson Alas, DDS. Currently, Dr. Elva Maldonado, DDS and Dr. Jennifer Tsai, DDS serve our children. Treatments include everything from cleanings to root canals. When needed, clients are referred to local dentists for more involved procedures.  Mary Hernandez has worked as Office Manager since the Center’s inception.

In 2019 the Dental Center began accepting Denti-Cal patients in addition to the uninsured.  In 2020 the Dental Center began accepting adult family members of the children served.  We now provide complete dental care to children, adult and senior multi-generational family members.