The California Dental Association Foundation and CDA are hosting a two-day CDA Cares dental clinic to provide free oral health care to about 1,900 people. The event is scheduled for Oct. 26 and 27 at the Modesto Center Plaza, 1000 L St., Modesto.

Dentists and dental professionals will provide fillings, extractions, cleanings, limited dentures and partial dentures, root canals on front teeth, oral health education and assistance finding ongoing care. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis Friday and Saturday.

Doors open at 5:30 a.m. both Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27.

An estimated 30 percent of Californians face barriers to dental care. CDA Cares educates the public and policymakers about the importance of good oral health and the need for a state Medicaid dental program (Denti-Cal) that works.

No ID required. For more, patients can call 877.516.8854 or visit https://www.cdafoundation.org/cda-cares/modesto.

Formed as the philanthropic arm of the California Dental Association in 2001, and with a mission to improve the oral health of all Californians by supporting the dental health profession in its efforts to meet community needs, the CDA Foundation holds volunteer events called CDA Cares that provide dental care at no charge to Californians in need. The CDA Foundation also provides student loan repayment grants to new dentists practicing in underserved communities and promotes oral health prevention and education.

Total CDA Cares impact since 2012 include: free care to 25,528 people; $20.75 million in dental care provided; 22,325 volunteers, including dentists and dental professionals involved.

Statewide, an estimated 30 percent of residents face barriers to oral health care. Barriers include unemployment, lack of insurance, cost, lack of oral health education, transportation, language and geography. Children miss an estimated 874,000 school days annually due to dental problems.

Denti-Cal (the state’s Medicaid dental program) has 13.5 million Californians enrolled (more than half of all children and a third of adults) but a state audit of Denti-Cal reported 56 percent of children enrolled did not receive any dental care.

For every $1 spent on preventive care, up to $50 is saved in restorative and emergency treatments and for every $1 spent on community water fluoridation, approximately $38 is saved in treatment costs for tooth decay.