Imagine visiting a dentist not only for your teeth but also for your overall well-being, including mental health support, all in one appointment. This vision has become a reality at Asian Health Services, a community health center in Alameda County that is pioneering a first-of-its-kind integration of dental and wellness care. For thousands of patients in the area who cannot afford private care and who face language barriers, this innovative approach has become a lifeline, providing comprehensive healthcare in a culturally sensitive environment.
At the heart of this initiative is Dr. Huong Le, a trailblazer in the community who was recruited as the first dental director for Asian Health Services decades ago. Starting with a dental clinic in Oakland’s Chinatown and later expanding to new facilities in San Leandro, Dr. Le has continuously pushed the boundaries of patient care. She emphasizes the importance of treating patients as whole individuals rather than limiting the focus to dental health alone. Many of her patients, she explains, spend between 40 minutes to an hour in the dental chair, allowing for deeper conversations. In those moments, patients often open up about struggles with depression, stress, and other challenges that extend far beyond oral health.
This realization led Dr. Le to develop the concept of combining dental and mental health care under one roof. To bring the idea to life, she hired a full-time licensed clinical social worker who is available to meet with patients immediately if needed. This unique model means that individuals can access mental health support seamlessly while receiving dental treatment, a crucial step in communities where stigma, cost, and lack of access often prevent people from seeking help.
Alongside its mental health integration, Asian Health Services also offers an impressive range of dental specialties, including oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, and periodontics. According to Dr. Le, the clinic is the only one in the state to provide all four of these specialties while serving primarily Medi-Cal patients. This is especially significant in Alameda County, where dental specialists who accept Medi-Cal are virtually nonexistent. Patients who rely on the state’s healthcare program are often left with the choice of paying out-of-pocket or ignoring their dental needs altogether, a gap that AHS has been working to bridge for decades.
Asian Health Services has been serving Alameda County for more than 50 years and currently provides care to around 50,000 patients across 15 locations. The organization’s commitment to accessibility is further highlighted by the fact that services are offered in 14 different languages, ensuring that patients from diverse cultural backgrounds can receive care in a language they understand. This multilingual approach breaks down barriers to communication and trust, which are critical in healthcare settings where cultural sensitivities often shape how individuals seek and receive care.
Looking ahead, Dr. Le has her sights set on another groundbreaking milestone. She hopes to establish the first dental residency program at a community health center in the state of California that is not tied to a traditional academic institution or dental school. If accredited, the program would provide aspiring dentists with a unique opportunity to train in both dentistry and behavioral health integration, equipping them with skills to serve diverse communities more effectively. The program would also expose residents to the cultural dimensions of healthcare, helping them understand and respect the beliefs that shape how different communities approach wellness.
An accreditation visit for the proposed program is scheduled for September, and if successful, the first group of dental residents could begin training as early as July 2026. Dr. Le envisions this program as a model that could be replicated across the country, reinforcing the idea that healthcare should address the whole person and not just isolated symptoms or conditions.
For now, Asian Health Services continues to stand as a beacon of innovation in Alameda County, where the demand for accessible, affordable, and culturally sensitive care continues to grow. By integrating dental and mental health care, offering multiple specialties under one roof, and planning for the future with a dental residency program, the clinic is reshaping what community healthcare can look like. Patients who once struggled to find basic dental or mental health services now have access to a system that sees them not just as patients, but as whole individuals whose physical, emotional, and cultural needs matter equally.
This holistic approach is a reminder that true healthcare goes beyond treating symptoms. It means listening, understanding, and responding to the broader needs of individuals and communities. In doing so, Asian Health Services is not only changing lives but also creating a model of care that could inspire change far beyond Alameda County.
