La Clínica Transit Village Dental staff
Bridging the Gaps Between Dental and Medical Care
When Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm first joined La Clínica as a new dental graduate, she wasn’t sure what path her career would take. But the organization’s mission—built on a foundation of community care—aligned perfectly with her values. Now, as Associate Dental Director at one of La Clínica’s dental clinics in Oakland, she leads a team dedicated to prevention, education, and breaking down barriers between dental and medical care.
If a family starts coming to the dentist, it inspires others in their community. Those incremental changes add up.
—Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm, Associate Dental Director of Transit Village Dental
A Clinic That Adapts to Community Needs
When the pandemic hit, dental clinics nationwide faced a crisis; most procedures were deemed “elective,” forcing many to shut down. But La Clínica pivoted, finding ways to keep serving patients. The team got creative, focusing on urgent care, education, and early intervention—especially for pregnant women, young children, and families.
Many patients have never had consistent dental care, so the team doesn’t just treat cavities—they teach parents how to care for their children’s teeth, breaking cycles of poor oral health. That is how dental health at La Clínica becomes an intergenerational intervention. “If a family starts coming to the dentist, it inspires others in their community,” says Dr. Aguinaldo-Wetterholm. “Those incremental changes add up.”
intervention
Diabetes, Dental Health, and the Silent Epidemic
One of La Clinica’s most innovative projects is diabetes screening in our dental clinics. Before COVID, the Dental Department piloted a program where dental providers administered tests to identify undiagnosed diabetes. “A typical patient might think they are healthy because they have not had any significant health episodes but we soon learn that it’s been 20 years since they’ve seen a doctor,” Dr. Aguinaldo-Wetterholm explains.
Gum disease and uncontrolled diabetes are closely linked, and many patients suffer from a “trifecta” of high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes—often without knowing it. By screening at dental visits, La Clínica can refer patients to medical providers before severe complications arise and detect risks right in the chair. Conversely, medical clinics remind patients to see a dentist, creating a two-way referral system that closes gaps in care.
Oral health is health. If you lose your teeth young, your nutrition, speech, and confidence suffer. People deserve care for their whole body—not just parts of it.
—Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm,
Associate Dental Director of Transit Village Dental
Despite progress, dental deserts—areas with too few providers—persist. That means long wait times, and challenges accessing special needs dentistry. The biggest hurdle of all though remains that dental care isn’t included in universal healthcare proposals. La Clínica’s vision is a simple one: a world where dental care is seamless, preventive, and accessible to all. Until then, La Clínica will keep advocating for integration and bridging the gaps in care—one smile, one screening, and one generational shift at a time.
