Even in a best-case scenario, dental care can be difficult to access.
For a refugee, getting access to care is more difficult still. Coming from a destabilized region without ready access to medical care can sometimes cause interrelated, systemic issues which translate, in the United States, to overwhelming costs and sky-high payments.
To this end, City Heights-based dental nonprofit Cura Smiles will partner with Seeds of Hope — an organization dedicated to supporting refugee children and families as they rebuild their lives in the United States — to host a dental clinic at the beginning of next month for refugee children in San Diego in honor of Children’s Dental Health Month.
“Our primary goal is to get people out of pain,” said Christine Passmore, executive director of Cura Smiles. “There’s a bunch of kids who are in desperate need of dental care.”
But of course, it’s not just about pain. Dental issues can touch on every single aspect of an individual’s life, especially when that life has already been marked by trauma.
“There’s the mental health and the self-esteem part of it too,” said Passmore. “We’ve seen such beautiful stories of transformation.”
Cura Smiles’ stated mission is to address the physical and psychological effects of poor oral health, which often leads to social stigma, pain, discomfort, and systemic health issues. To this end, the clinic will provide patients with free, comprehensive dental services, including exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, and extractions.
The following week, on February 20, Cura Smiles will host its Second Annual Hearts Over Hate Clinic. The event honors the life of Dr. Benjamin Harouni, a dentist practicing in the El Cajon area who was killed in 2024, just days after his 28th birthday.
In partnership with Hearts Over Hate, which was founded by Harouni’s family, the clinic will serve still more patients — about 25 — who lack access to essential care. More than 30 patients were treated in last year’s initial dental clinic.
This year’s clinic holds special significance, landing on what would have been Harouni’s 30th birthday.
“This clinic is a beautiful way to honor Benjamin’s heart for others,” said Passmore. “We’re grateful to the Harouni family and Hearts Over Hate for partnering with us to carry forward his legacy of kindness, generosity, and transformational care.”
More information, including where people can donate to support the clinics, can be found here.
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