DentaQuest donates $10K to help cancer patients, kids access dental care in South Carolina

DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., has donated $10,000 to support a South Carolina clinic that provides dental care for low-income adults with cancer and uninsured school-aged children who lack regular access to a dentist.

The funding went to the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, a non-profit that offers diagnostic and treatment services for most acute and chronic illnesses to uninsured residents of Greenville County. The clinic’s dental program alone delivers more than 5,000 procedures annually through over 1,000 patient visits—services valued at nearly $1 million.

“In addition to creating unnecessary and potentially life-altering pain and infection, poor oral health and dental disease impact our general well-being—from increased school absences among young children, resulting in lower academic performance, to systemic conditions like cancer, where oral health problems can delay treatment or worsen side effects from chemo or radiation therapy,” said Dr. Todd Gray, chief dental officer for Sun Life U.S. Dental, which includes DentaQuest.

“By focusing on these two high-need groups, Greenville Free Medical Clinic is closing important gaps, and we are proud to support expanding access to oral healthcare that ultimately ensures improved overall health for these Greenville residents,” Gray added.

Related link: Time to Re-evaluate the Role of Dentists in Preventing Head and Neck Cancers

Related link: Understanding Oral Health in HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer in People with HIV

Health Access Hero awards

The donation follows the recent opening of applications for the 2025 Health Access Hero awards, an initiative by Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest that recognizes organizations and individuals advancing health equity in their communities.

The awards include two tracks: one offering grants to support community-based health and wellness programs, and the other honouring individuals who have made a significant impact in their local areas. Individual award recipients receive a $10,000 donation to a charity of their choice. Since the program launched, the Health Access Hero awards have distributed over $3 million in grants and honoured more than 125 individuals across the United States.