Dentists on Wheels

What Dentists on Wheels does

Dentists on Wheels (DOW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dental clinic founded in May 2019 and based in Pittsburg, California. The organization provides free preventative and restorative dental care to uninsured and low-income individuals in the East Bay region, specifically Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Services span the full clinical spectrum: preventative care (screenings, examinations, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, oral health education) and restorative care (fillings, root canals, crowns, partial and permanent dentures, extractions), with a stated clinical philosophy of preserving teeth over extraction. Patient access is rationed through a bilingual (English/Spanish) application process submitted via Google Forms, with recipients selected through a lottery-like screening system due to limited capacity.

Operationally, DOW is built on a volunteer-labor model. Care is delivered by 20+ volunteer dentists and specialists (spanning pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, endodontics, and public health) supported by clinic volunteers and a small management team. The physical footprint is a permanent 3-operatory dental clinic located at St. Vincent de Paul (2210 Gladstone Dr, Pittsburg, CA), which opened in September 2021 and began treating patients one day per week (Thursdays) that October. Prior to the permanent facility, the organization operated using portable dental equipment at volunteer offices and partner locations. Core technology is limited to portable dental equipment, the physical operatories, and third-party tools (Open Dental practice software, PayPal for donations, Google Forms for intake, reCAPTCHA for bot protection); there are no proprietary technical components, APIs, or AI capabilities.

As a nonprofit, DOW does not generate commercial revenue — all services are free to patients. It is funded through three donation-based streams: individual and corporate cash donations (via PayPal, with tiers of $250 to heal one patient, $500 for dentures, $1,000 to heal four patients); grants from foundations; and in-kind donations of dental equipment, supplies, and materials, which cumulatively total $450,000 from partners including Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Patterson Dental Supply, and numerous dental manufacturers. Its go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-patient, relying on community partnerships (notably the Society of St. Vincent de Paul), referrals, its website, an email newsletter, and Instagram.

Name

Dentists on Wheels

Legal name

Dentists on Wheels

Website

https://dentistsonwheels.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dentists on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a volunteer-staffed, 3-operatory dental clinic in Pittsburg, California, providing free preventative and restorative dental care to uninsured, low-income residents of Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Dental Services

NAICS

Offices of Dentists (62121)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Family Dentistry (Multi-Disciplinary In-Office General Care) (HLABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preventive & Routine General Dentistry (Exams/Cleanings/Sealants/Fluoride) (HLABAAAA), Mobile & On-Site General Dentistry (Workplace/Nursing Home/Home Visits) (HLABAAAG), General Dentistry Group Practices (HLABAKAB)

Keywords

• Free dental services
• Nonprofit dental clinic
• Preventative dental care
• Restorative dental care
• Community dental outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and corporate donations accepted via PayPal, including specific donation tiers ($250 to heal a patient, $500 to provide dentures, $1000 to heal 4 patients). The organization also accepts donations of dental equipment.
2. Grant Funding: Funding from grant givers and foundations to support clinic operations and expand services. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making donations tax-deductible.
3. In-Kind Donations: Total of $450,000 in in-kind donations received from partners and donors including dental equipment, supplies, and materials from companies like Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Patterson Dental Supply, and other dental suppliers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dentists on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dental clinic that delivers free preventative and restorative dental care to uninsured and low-income patients in Contra Costa and Alameda counties in California's East Bay. It operates a permanent 3-operatory clinic at St. Vincent de Paul in Pittsburg, CA, supplemented by mobile/pop-up services, staffed by 20+ volunteer dentists and dental professionals. Patients gain access via bilingual lottery-based screening and are treated with services including cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, dentures, extractions, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and oral health education.

Product overview

Dentists on Wheels (DOW) is a nonprofit dental clinic providing free dental care services to underserved communities in East Bay, California. The organization operates a 3-operatory permanent dental clinic at St. Vincent de Paul in Pittsburg, CA, offering preventative care services (screenings, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments) and restorative care (fillings, root canals, dentures, extractions). Services are delivered through a volunteer-based model where licensed dentists, dental specialists, and pre-dental students provide care. Patient access is managed through a bilingual lottery-based application system. The organization is funded through donations and grants, with donation tiers supporting patient care ($250 to heal one patient, $500 for dentures, $1000 to heal four patients).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preventative Care Services Comprehensive preventive dental services including screenings, examinations, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, fluoride varnish, and oral health education instruction, provided free of charge to uninsured and low-income patients.
• Restorative Care Services Restorative dental procedures including fillings, root canals, crowns/caps, partial dentures, permanent dentures, and extractions, provided free of charge to uninsured and low-income patients.
• Volunteer Program Program enabling dental professionals, pre-dental students, and community members to volunteer at the clinic. Dental volunteers assist with chair-side skills and tool sterilization, while licensed providers offer clinical services.
• Community Dental Events Community healthcare events providing dental care and oral health awareness to people in challenged areas around East Bay, California, particularly in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Society of St. Vincent de PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Major partnership providing clinic location at 2210 Gladstone Dr, Pittsburg, CA. DOW partnered with St Vincent de Paul starting October 2020 to provide free dental services using portable equipment, and later established their permanent clinic at this location.
• Henry Schein Cares FoundationmajorOthersDental supply company foundation that has provided in-kind donations to support DOW's operations. Received $450,000 total in in-kind donations from partners and donors.
• Contra Costa Health ServicescoreOthersLocal health services department that has donated to support DOW's mission of providing dental care to underserved communities in Contra Costa County.
• Patterson Dental Supply - East Bay Branch #438majorOthersDental supply company that provides in-kind donations of dental equipment and supplies to support DOW clinic operations.
• AnshellminorOthersCorporate donor listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.
• BeeSure by EcoBeeminorOthersCorporate donor listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.
• CocoflossminorOthersCorporate donor listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.
• DryshieldminorOthersCorporate donor listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.
• GCminorOthersCorporate donor (dental company) listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.
• Hu-FriedyminorOthersDental instrument manufacturer listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• UltradentminorOthersDental materials company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• VocominorOthersDental materials company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• MouthWatchminorOthersDental technology company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• Glove ClubminorOthersDental supply company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• ProEdgeminorOthersDental supply company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• The Dental Supply Company (TDSC)minorOthersDental supply company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• Elevate Oral Health CareminorOthersOral health care company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• Op-d-opminorOthersDental supply company listed as in-kind donor supporting DOW operations.
• Lips Inc.minorOthersCorporate donor listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.
• Lands EndminorOthersCorporate donor listed among in-kind donors supporting DOW operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Remote Area Medical: National nonprofit operating free mobile pop-up clinics delivering dental, vision, and medical care to underserved populations. Comparable volunteer-driven, donation-funded, lottery-style model targeting uninsured patients.
• RotaCare Bay Area: Free clinic network in the San Francisco Bay Area providing medical and dental care to uninsured populations through volunteer clinicians. Directly comparable regional nonprofit clinic model serving similar demographics.
• Community Dental Care (Minnesota): Nonprofit dental organization operating multiple clinics providing affordable and free care to underserved communities. Comparable multi-site nonprofit dental model with similar patient mix and sliding-scale/free service offering.
• America's Dentists Care Foundation (Mission of Mercy): Nonprofit that organizes Mission of Mercy free dental clinics across the U.S. using portable equipment and volunteer dentists. Closely comparable mobile-clinic, volunteer-dentist, lottery-style service model.
• Berkeley Free Clinic: Volunteer-run free clinic in Berkeley providing dental and medical services to uninsured East Bay residents. Direct regional peer in the same geography, using a similar volunteer model and serving overlapping uninsured populations.

Emerging players

• Care Harbor: Nonprofit producing large-scale free healthcare events including dental services in California. Comparable event-driven, volunteer-dentist model; differs by relying on mass events rather than a permanent clinic.

Others

• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics: National membership organization supporting free and charitable clinics including dental providers. Relevant peer ecosystem organization through which DOW could access grant funding, training, and shared infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit organization coordinating free, comprehensive dental care for people with disabilities, the elderly, and medically fragile. Operates a broader network of volunteer dentists than DOW; comparable mission and donor base.
• California Dental Association Foundation: Philanthropic arm of California's dental association running access-to-care programs and volunteer dentist networks. Comparable mission focus and potential upstream partner or alternative model for DOW's volunteer dentist recruitment.
• Project HOPE (Dental Programs): Global health nonprofit with programs providing dental care to underserved populations. Comparable donor-funded model; differs in scale and geographic focus, but represents an established nonprofit dental care brand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dentistsonwheels
• Facebookfacebook.com/dentistsonwheels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dentists-on-wheels

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dentists on Wheels