Press Release: Alameda Health System Brings Dental Care Back to the Students and Families of Oakland’s Frick United Academy of Language

Partnership with East Bay Agency for Children brings dental services back to Frick Academy students and parents after a three-year hiatus.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Alameda Health System (AHS) joined forces with the East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC)'s health and resource center to provide dental services at Frick United Academy of Language in East Oakland. The new dental clinic brings FREE, high-quality dental care directly to a community that lacks access to affordable dental care.

The dental clinic is a partnership among AHS, Alameda County Health, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), and EBAC. AHS dental providers will offer cleanings, exams, and treatments in a newly equipped dental exam room. The dental clinic is also designed as a front door to the broader AHS system.

"Oral health is overall health," said James Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Alameda Health System. "In addition to the dental services provided, this clinic improves access and connectivity to broader services. A child receiving treatment here may also get connected to a primary care provider or counselor. That's the solution we are offering the community. We are going where people are, rather than needing them to find us," he added.

The need is acute. Oakland faces a significant gap in dental access and workers. According to the Alameda County Office of Dental Health Oral Health Needs Assessment released in December 2025, the statistics tell a powerful story and identify a critical need to address to ensure student success and community health. The data show:

• Half of students had experienced tooth decay
• 29% (more than 1 in 4) had untreated tooth decay
• 8% needed urgent dental care
• Only 43% of Alameda County children on Medi-Cal, ages 0-20, received preventive dental services.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, a longtime youth advocate, said, "We have a dental access problem in our community, and for low-income families, it is much worse. No parent should have to wait for a toothache to become an emergency just to get their child seen. This clinic puts care where the children already are."

The consequences of these data show up in classrooms and even the emergency room. The same study shows that Alameda County children, age 5 and older, miss school at a higher rate than children statewide.

"Our goal is to eliminate obstacles to learning. A child with an untreated toothache has a much harder time thinking about fractions or reading comprehension," said Denise Saddler, Ed.D., Superintendent of Oakland Unified School District. "Young people in our county and city miss school over dental problems at a higher rate than kids across the state. Health and academic achievement are part of the same conversation. Bringing dental care back to Frick Academy is one of the most practical things we can do to ensure we remove any dental-related obstacles to learning," she added.

In addition, emergency department visits for non-traumatic dental conditions climbed to 382 per 100,000 residents in 2022-23, with African American residents visiting the ED for dental problems at nearly three times the county's rate. Emergency rooms can treat pain, but they can't treat the cavity or the underlying lack of preventive care.

"This partnership highlights the impact we can collectively have by working together to provide comprehensive care for our kids and young adults. Services like this will support their well-being both inside and outside the classroom," said Alameda County Supervisor and Chair of the Board of Supervisors' Health Committee, Nate Miley.

Why School-based Care?

Oral health is overall health. Untreated dental problems affect a child's ability to sleep, eat, and learn. They take a huge toll on confidence and mental health.

When families can't find a provider, small problems become emergencies. Alameda County's 2025 assessment found the sharpest increases in ED visits for dental conditions for children ages 0-5.

Trust also matters. Too many families feel anxious about visiting a clinic or hospital. A familiar school setting makes care less intimidating and easier to reach. That's why AHS partnered with EBAC to bring dental services back into a health center Frick families already know, removing access barriers.

"In county school screenings, half the students had already experienced decay, and nearly one in three had untreated decay," said Dr. Charmaine Ng, Chief Chair of Dentistry at Alameda Health System. "That is preventable. What stands in the way is access, often distance, time, cost, time off work, fear, or even just a provider. Here at Frick, we can catch problems early and turn the child's dental visit into a good memory instead of an emergency."

"When care happens in a setting families already trust, everything changes," said Josh Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of East Bay Agency for Children. "For years, EBAC has walked alongside Frick students and caregivers at this health center, supporting their mental health and daily needs. Partnering with AHS to restore dental care completes the circle of whole-child care."

In addition to dental services provided by AHS, students also have access to behavioral health and family support services from EBAC that connects students, parents, and caregivers to primary care, pharmacy, and social services.

A Multi-Generational Partnership of Black Medical Leadership

The return of dental care also marks a moment of continuity in Alameda County's Black medical history. AHS CEO James Jackson and OUSD Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler are the son and daughter of pioneering African American health care leaders in the East Bay.

Jackson's father, Dr. James Jackson, was a community physician who chaired Maternal and Child Health at Highland Hospital and spent decades caring for East Bay families. Dr. Saddler's father, Dr. J.D. Saddler, was a longtime Berkeley dentist and one of the first African American dentists to practice in the area. Her brother, Dr. Phillip Saddler, continues the practice today.

"Our fathers spent their careers bringing care to families who had been told to wait," said Jackson. "Standing in a school, in East Oakland, opening a dental clinic with Denise, feels like continuing the work our dads started. I am moved that a generation later, we are still making a difference in the lives of our community."

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About Alameda Health System
Alameda Health System (AHS) is a leading safety-net, integrated health care provider and medical training institution recognized for its world-class, patient- and family-centered care. AHS provides comprehensive medical treatment, health promotion, and disease prevention throughout our integrated network of hospitals, clinics, and health services. AHS includes three acute care hospitals, an affiliate acute care hospital, a psychiatric hospital, four ambulatory care wellness centers, five post-acute facilities, and the only adult Level 1 Trauma Center and psychiatric emergency department in Alameda County. Its four skilled nursing facilities have a long history of ranking among the best nursing homes in the country by Newsweek and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. AHS is committed to promoting wellness and optimizing the health of the community through the mission of caring, healing, teaching and serving all. For more information, visit AlamedaHealthSystem.org.

Media Contact: Erika Brink
Full Court Press Communications
951-553-3561
[email protected]