California - Western University of Health Sciences / We Care Dental - AEGD

We Care Dental first began operating in 2009 utilizing donated space has since grown to an 11-chair clinic. In 2017 the site became a wholly owned satellite clinical training site of Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine (WesternU CDM) who have partnered with NYU Langone to offer a residency program in advanced education in general dentistry. The site now offers space for two AEGD residents and seven WesternU dental students. We Care focuses on provided comprehensive general dental care for all types of patients in the Coachella Valley. The office has a large percentage of special needs patients, medically complex patients and insurance patients. This is made possible by providing quality care in a humanistic environment at affordable prices. The program is in a growth phase and has become an outstanding training site for pre and post‐doctoral students, made possible by its two full-time faculty, Dr. Effuah Harris and Dr. Via Schulz, and the devoted team of back and front office support staff. Dental residents receive experience in a wide range of services including oral surgery, rotary endodontics, implant restoration, removable prosthodontics and extensive fixed prosthodontics procedures; with specialist procedures supervised by rotating expert faculty. Although We Care Dental still maintains its mission of providing care to special needs/medically complex patients, the patient pool has expanded to include a diverse mix of patient types and variety of procedural experience that will prepare residents for general practice in any community.

What is the mission of your health center?
To provide high quality affordable comprehensive dental care to all residents of the Coachella Valley with an emphasis on caring for those with special needs or who lack access to care.

What types of dental services can I expect to perform?Operative dentistry

• Operative dentistry
• Single and multi-unit fixed prosthodontics
• Removable prosthodontics
• Endodontics
• Oral surgery including surgical extraction, Impacted 3^rd Molars, Socket preservation, & Pre-prosthetic surgery
• Implant Placement and restoration
• Nitrous oxide sedation
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Special needs dental management and care

What types of technologies can I expect to use?

• ADEC dental units
• Surgical handpieces, Bien Air Electric Handpieces
• Digital intraoral and panoramic radiography (Schick sensors)
• Cone Beam radiography
• Rotary endodontics
• Electronic Health Record (Axium)
• Digitalized Implant Planning and placement

What is the patient population?
Age – Child (0-13) 14% / Adult 86%
Dentical 50%; Cash/Insurance 50%
Special needs 5-10%

What is life like outside of the clinic?
Rancho Mirage is located about 12 miles southeast of Palm Springs and 120 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, CA. The city boasts world-class resorts, outstanding golf courses, spas, dining, superb tennis, and world-renowned health facilities like Eisenhower Medical Center. The Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Tolerance Education Center, the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert and the Braille Institute deliver programs and services that rival those in any major city. Many outdoor activities such as Joshua Tree National Park and the San Bernardino National Forest and San Gorgonio Wilderness are within driving distance. Summer temperatures are rarely below 100F during the day, but outside of the Summer-months, the desert is an oasis of outdoor activities, world-class dining and exceptionally friendly people.