UCSD Pre-Dental Society / Free Dental Clinic Project

What UCSD Pre-Dental Society / Free Dental Clinic Project does

The UCSD Student-Run Free Dental Clinic Project is a non-profit student organization founded in 2002 and affiliated with UC San Diego. It delivers free dental healthcare services—including examinations, cleanings, and other procedures—to underserved and low-income populations in the San Diego area who lack access to affordable dental care. Since 2002, the organization has recorded 39,175 patient visits, supported by 175,721 student volunteer hours and 25,709 professional volunteer hours, with the cumulative value of dental care delivered estimated at $11,440,151.

Name

UCSD Pre-Dental Society / Free Dental Clinic Project

Legal name

UC San Diego Student-Run Free Dental Clinic Project

Website

https://fdc-pds.ucsd.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The UCSD Student-Run Free Dental Clinic Project is a non-profit, student-run organization affiliated with UC San Diego that provides free dental care to underserved populations in San Diego through volunteer dental professionals and students, delivering over $11.4 million in services since 2002.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Dental Health Services

NAICS

Offices of Dentists (62121), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

School/Community-Based Preventive Dental Programs (HLABAHAM)

Keywords

• Free dental services
• Community dental clinic
• Student-run clinic
• Humanitarian dental outreach
• Volunteer dental care

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Volunteer Support: As a non-profit program, the clinic relies on volunteer time, donations of supplies, and financial contributions to operate. Revenue is generated through charitable donations rather than patient fees, as all services are provided free of charge to patients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The UCSD Student-Run Free Dental Clinic Project is a non-profit student organization that provides free, accessible dental healthcare services to underserved populations in the San Diego community. Services are delivered at multiple clinic sites by licensed volunteer dentists alongside UCSD student volunteers, and supplemented by educational outreach (Dental Health Ambassadors), a guest speaker series, humanitarian missions with the U.S. Navy, and an online store and member portal.

Product overview

UCSD Student-Run Free Dental Clinic Project is a non-profit student organization that provides accessible, quality dental healthcare for underserved populations in San Diego. The organization operates through a network of clinic sites and offers multiple engagement pathways including a member portal (myPDS), an e-commerce store, educational programs like the Dental Health Ambassadors and Guest Speaker series, and international humanitarian missions in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. The organization has provided over $11.4 million in dental care value, 175,721 student volunteer hours, 25,709 professional volunteer hours, and 39,175 patient visits since 2002.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Dental Clinic Services Free dental examinations, cleanings, and other dental procedures provided to underserved and low-income individuals and families in the San Diego community through student volunteers and licensed volunteer dentists at multiple clinic sites.
• Humanitarian Dental Missions Humanitarian dental outreach missions delivered in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense, providing dental care to underserved populations locally, nationally, and internationally.

Quantifiable outcome

• $11,440,151 in dental care value provided to 39,175 patient visits

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UC San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002The clinic is affiliated with UC San Diego as a student-run program, providing educational opportunities for students while delivering dental care to the community.
• U.S. Navy and Department of DefensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for humanitarian outreach programs, combining military resources with community dental care delivery for underserved populations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Community Health Programs: Tufts dental school runs community-based clinical programs in Massachusetts providing care to underserved patients while training students — a direct peer university-affiliated free/community dental care initiative.
• Remote Area Medical (RAM): RAM is a major nonprofit that operates free pop-up dental, vision, and medical clinics across the U.S. serving uninsured and underinsured populations — directly comparable as a free dental care provider focused on underserved communities.
• America's Dentists Care Foundation: ADCF supports Missions of Mercy and other free dental clinics nationwide by providing equipment and operational infrastructure — a sector peer operating in the same free dental care delivery space.
• UCSF School of Dentistry Community Dental Clinic: UCSF operates student-supported community dental programs in the Bay Area serving uninsured and underinsured patients — closely analogous in combining dental education with free/subsidized community care delivery.
• Mission of Mercy: Mission of Mercy organizes free mobile dental clinics serving low-income individuals across multiple U.S. states — a direct peer operating free dental care for underserved populations on a volunteer-driven model.
• UCLA School of Dentistry Community Outreach: UCLA's dental school runs community-based clinics and outreach programs serving low-income populations in Los Angeles — directly comparable as a university-affiliated free dental care initiative serving underserved communities in California.
• NYU College of Dentistry Community Outreach: NYU's dental school operates extensive community outreach programs including free or low-cost care to underserved populations in New York City — directly comparable as a large university-based free/community dental care model.
• Howard University College of Dentistry Community Outreach: Howard's dental school operates community clinics and outreach serving underserved populations in Washington, D.C. — comparable as a university-based program providing free or low-cost dental care through student and professional volunteers.
• USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry Community Outreach: USC's dental school runs community clinics and outreach in the Los Angeles area providing care to underserved patients while training dental students — a direct peer with similar university-affiliated free clinic structure.

Others

• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics: NAFC is an industry association supporting a network of free and charitable clinics (including dental) across the U.S. — adjacent as an ecosystem organization that supports comparable free-clinic operators.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UCSDPDS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucsd-pre-dental-society-free-dental-clinic-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucsdpds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 UCSD Pre-Dental Society / Free Dental Clinic Project