A landmark partnership between Parker Family Health Center, Brookdale Community College, and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners has officially opened New Jersey’s first free dental clinic of its kind on Brookdale’s Lincroft campus. The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together state health officials, elected leaders, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community partners to celebrate a major expansion of free oral healthcare access for Monmouth County residents .

The clinic will provide free dental services to low-income residents who lack dental insurance, addressing a significant community need. More than 31,000 residents are uninsured, and over 120,000 county residents lack dental coverage, including approximately 82,000 seniors—a gap that contributes to worsening oral health and increased emergency room use.

In addition to expanding access to care, the clinic strengthens the local healthcare workforce. Brookdale students previously had to travel off?site for clinical training; the new facility now provides on?campus hands?on experience for dental assisting, dental radiology, and the county’s first dental hygiene licensure program. With more than 50 dental hygienist positions currently open in Monmouth County, the program is expected to help train and retain skilled professionals locally

Leaders across government, healthcare, and education praised the collaboration. Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone highlighted the project’s impact on equity and access, while Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. commended the partnership for addressing critical healthcare needs and creating new educational opportunities. State Deputy Health Commissioner Nashon Hornsby emphasized the importance of oral health and the clinic’s role in serving uninsured residents, including veterans.

The volunteer?driven clinic will offer preventive care, cleanings, fillings, X?rays, simple extractions, and oral health education, supported by volunteer dentists, hygienists, assistants, and Brookdale faculty and students. Parker Family Health Center, which provided more than 20,000 patient visits last year, continues its mission of delivering free healthcare to uninsured and underinsured residents across the county.

This first-of-its-kind clinic stands as a model of what can be achieved when education, healthcare, government, and community organizations work together to improve health outcomes and expand access to essential services for all residents.