Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Thanks to sponsorship from Communities In Schools of Houston, 30 students at Spring Oaks Middle School in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) recently received comprehensive dental checkups, teeth cleanings, and fluoride treatments from fourth-year students at the University of Texas Health School of Dentistry.

Under the supervision of Dr. Tommy Harrison, a professor and dentist, the dental team spent two days at the campus in a fully equipped mobile dental van. The van features three state-of-the-art exam chairs and an X-ray machine. The opportunity to serve multiple patients in a single day—about one per hour—is a valuable experience for the dental students. 

“We are starting to get these dental students ready for the real world,” Harrison said.

More Than a Checkup

In addition to standard exams, cleanings, and fluoride treatments, the dental team assessed whether students needed further treatment, such as cavity fillings, extractions, or root canals. Communities In Schools (CIS) Partnership Coordinator Reyan Vega works with parents to arrange additional care at the UT Health Center. These treatments, along with transportation, are funded through donations.

Building Trust Through Dental Care

“We see a lot of decay due to sugar consumption,” Harrison said. “But our main goal is to provide preventive services, evaluate risk levels, and build trust—not to give injections and drill teeth in a way that scares students.”

“We are caregivers,” he continued. Because of its community outreach, the mobile dental van is the leading referral source for the dental school’s pediatric program. The van has been serving schools and communities in the Houston area for 22 years.

Harrison praised the professionalism of the dental students, who calmly and carefully explained each step of the exam to their young patients.

For Cristal Cervantes, the CIS representative at Spring Oaks Middle, the visit was an exciting opportunity to support students on her caseload. There are many reasons why a person may not have dental insurance, and CIS with the support of the UT Health dental van work to ensure this is not a barrier for our students accessing quality dental care.

“Especially in middle school, it’s important for students’ self-image and confidence to have healthy teeth,” Cervantes said. “Their school attendance also improves when dental pain is relieved.”

Investing in Healthy Smiles

Supporting students’ oral health fosters trust, confidence, and overall well-being—key factors in their academic and personal development. The cost of the dental van visits, along with additional treatments at the dental school, is fully covered by Communities In Schools (CIS). This initiative is part of SBISD’s Family E3 framework, which focuses on engaging, educating, and empowering families to remove barriers and ensure Every Child thrives.

Thank you to CIS and the many SBISD partners who help support Every Child on their academic journey.

#EveryChild