Neighborhood Smiles Day
Over 120 EPISD Students Receive Screenings and Cleanings During Neighborhood Smiles Day at Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic
Marathon Petroleum announced a $50,000 grant to support oral health care for residents of the 79901, 79905 and 79915 ZIP codes
Marathon Petroleum is the kind of good neighbor who keeps El Pasoans smiling from ear to ear.
Marathon Petroleum and Texas Tech Health El Paso joined forces again on Friday, Nov. 15, to celebrate Neighborhood Smiles Day and continue their shared commitment to improving oral health for underserved families.
They hosted the fourth annual Neighborhood Smiles Day at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic in the Paso del Norte Health Foundation Building. Marathon Petroleum made the event possible through its $50,000 grant to the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Patient Fund.
Since 2021, the company has awarded the university four grants totaling $180,000, enabling the Oral Health Clinic and the dental school to provide free dental services to over 1,000 children, youths and seniors, as well as individuals from partner organizations such as the Opportunity Center for the Homeless and the Rescue Mission of El Paso.
Good neighbors
Approximately 120 El Paso Independent School District school students from Tinajero Elementary, Cooley Elementary and Zavala Elementary received no-cost screenings and cleanings provided by Hunt School of Dental Medicine students. One of the young participants from 79905 ZIP code expressed her excitement.
“This was so much fun!” said 7-year-old Samantha, a second grader at Cooley Elementary. “I liked having my teeth cleaned.”
In addition to her exam, Samantha eagerly participated in oral hygiene sessions, learning about healthy food choices, flossing, and proper brushing techniques to maintain good dental health, all under the watchful eye of Teeth Rex, the dental school’s lovable mascot.
For decades, the south-side neighborhoods that abutted El Paso’s Franklin Canal, known for their vibrant communities and cultural heritage, have faced significant challenges in accessing health care.
When it opened, the Oral Health Clinic succeeded in attracting more residents of South El Paso. These residents now enjoy access to a permanent “dental home,” with preventive and comprehensive care that many had previously been unable to afford.
“Marathon Petroleum’s generous contributions have brought smiles to thousands of faces in El Paso,” said Todd Parco, D.D.S., M.S.D., assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine. “Children are learning the importance of coming to the dentist early to learn the importance of regular check-ups. Hopefully, the next time these students show up to the clinic, they’ll bring their families with them.”
Marathon Petroleum has collaborated with the Oral Health Clinic since its opening in 2021. As a trusted health care provider in this community, the clinic offers crucial dental care, allowing students to gain hands-on experience from their first semester.
“At Marathon Petroleum in El Paso, our community investment strategy is centered around strengthening communities and helping make people's lives better,” said V.J. Smith, principal, corporate social responsibility and tribal affairs for Marathon Petroleum. “We couldn’t think of a better partner than Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic and a better program than Neighborhood Smiles Day to enable us all to make a positive, measurable impact together.”
Addressing a region’s critical need
The need for such initiatives is acute. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, El Paso County has only one dentist for every 3,053 residents, compared to one for every 1,750 in comparable Texas counties. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designates many neighborhoods surrounding the university as a Health Professional Shortage Areas for dentistry.
More than 50% of El Paso residents do not regularly visit a dentist, and the consequences of inadequate preventive care are severe, including increased rates of tooth decay and other health issues. Dental caries remains the most common chronic disease among children, occurring five times more frequently than asthma and often leading to pain, difficulty eating, and other health complications. In the U.S., more than 51 million school hours are lost annually due to dental problems, affecting around 8.6 million children aged 6 to 12.
Neighborhood Smiles Day underscores the university’s commitment to addressing these challenges head-on. The event specifically focused on young residents from the 79901, 79905, and 79915 ZIP codes—neighborhoods the institution is deeply committed to serving. By providing these students with necessary dental care and education, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine and its partners are setting the foundation for a healthier future.
Providing access to excellent dental care
For children without regular access to dental care, simple lessons on oral hygiene can lead to a lifetime of better health outcomes.
This partnership also plays a crucial role in the education and training of dental students. From their first semester, students at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine gain practical, real-world experience by working with patients from diverse backgrounds and with varying oral health needs. As the first cohort prepares to graduate, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine and Texas Tech Health El Paso acknowledge that Marathon Petroleum’s foundational support has been integral to the school’s growth and the clinic’s success in serving the community.
“Community partnerships like the one we have with Marathon Petroleum are essential for creating lasting health improvements,” said Dr. Parco. “We’re excited to continue this work and see how our students, equipped with hands-on training and a deep commitment to service, will make an impact.”
Together, Texas Tech Health El Paso and Marathon Petroleum are building a future where every child can smile confidently and every community can thrive through access to quality dental care.
About Marathon Petroleum
Marathon Petroleum focuses its investments on core areas where it can make a positive, measurable impact, including sustainability, community needs and programs that increase access to high-quality educational training and career readiness resources.
About the Hunt School of Dental Medicine
The Hunt School of Dental Medicine opened in 2021 and is the only dental school on the U.S.-Mexico border, and the first in Texas to open in more than 50 years. The school offers the most innovative curriculum in the country, preparing students for the future of dentistry with high-tech simulation and an advanced fabrication laboratory. A first for any dental school in the nation, students begin clinical training and patient interaction during their first semester. It’s also the first and only dental school in the nation that requires Spanish language courses.
As upward of 75% of dental school graduates open practices near their dental schools, Hunt School of Dental Medicine graduates are expected to address the oral health care needs along the U.S.-Mexico border for generations to come. The Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic specializes in high-tech, same-day dentistry for patients. With a full complement of 221 students spanning four dental classes, Hunt School of Dental Medicine students are poised to provide nearly 60,000 clinical hours of oral care annually.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.