History

One Man's Dream

The Children's Dental Health Clinic began in 1932, when Dr. Robert Anderson, a Long Beach dentist, saw a need for access to dental care for the children of the poor in our community. More than 77 years ago, Dr. Anderson took a trailer to local schools with the dream of providing convenient dental screenings and care to young students.

Since our inception, we have served more than half a million children!

He may not have known then that his dream would grow into being one of the only non-profit children's dental clinics serving Greater Long Beach's underserved children.

Today, the CDHC has evolved into a comprehensive, hospital-based facility with satellite clinics in Bellflower, Avalon (Catalina Island) and a Mobile Dental Clinic. The CDHC’s Main Clinic is located on the campus of the Miller Children's Hospital at the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. In an effort to treat the “hidden population” in Catalina, the CDHC started the Avalon Satellite Clinic in 1988. In collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, our Bellflower Clinic opened in November 1999, further expanding our efforts into our surrounding communities. We are especially proud of our Mobile Dental Clinic, a 32 foot state of the art double operatory facility that brings our services directly to the underserved and full circle to Dr. Anderson's work.