Must! Charities invests $700,000 in pediatric dental care across SLO County
By Staff Report · Fri Aug 21 2026
PASO ROBLES — Must! Charities has launched a new three-year partnership with Tolosa Children’s Dental Center that will expand access to preventive and restorative dental care for underserved children throughout San Luis Obispo County.
Through its Healthy Smiles, Stronger Futures initiative, Must! is investing $700,000 over three years to expand Tolosa’s Dentistry at School program to Lillian Larsen Elementary School in San Miguel and increase the dental center’s capacity to provide restorative treatment.
The school-based program brings preventive dental services directly to campuses, including cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, oral health education and treatment planning. The approach is designed to reduce transportation, financial, language and scheduling barriers that can prevent children from receiving routine dental care.
The partnership will bring Dentistry at School to San Miguel, where 83% of Lillian Larsen students are designated as socioeconomically disadvantaged and more than half speak Spanish as their primary language. There are currently no dental providers located in San Miguel, requiring some families to travel more than 20 miles for care.
Between 2026 and 2028, the program is expected to provide oral health services to nearly 400 children in San Miguel while connecting students with ongoing and restorative care when needed.
The expanded initiative is expected to directly serve more than 5,000 children annually throughout the county and benefit more than 12,500 family members each year.
“When we saw how geography continues to limit access to pediatric dental care for families in San Miguel, we knew we had an opportunity to create lasting change,” said Randy Gray, Director of Community Investments at Must! Charities. “By bringing Dentistry at School directly to children, we’re removing barriers before they become lifelong disadvantages. This investment is about more than healthier smiles. It’s about helping children stay healthy, succeed in school, and build brighter futures.”
The funding will also support construction of a permanent dental suite at Tolosa Children’s Dental Center, organizational growth and the development of a sustainable Dentistry at School program.
“Tolosa Children’s Dental Center is honored to partner with Must! Charities on this multi-year investment, which will significantly expand access to pediatric oral health care for vulnerable children throughout SLO County. The funding will support the construction of a permanent dental suite, organizational growth, and establish a financial foundation for a long-term, sustainable Dentistry at School program,” said Alexandra Chamberlain, Executive Director of Tolosa Children’s Dental Center.
The partnership is part of Must! Charities’ collective giving model, which pools individual donations to make long-term investments in programs addressing community challenges throughout San Luis Obispo County.
Feature Image courtesy of Must! Charities