Improving children’s oral health in San Luis Obispo County since 2003.

Who We Are

Our Mission

Improving children’s oral health in San Luis Obispo County.

Vision

Every child grows up with a healthy, confident smile.

History

Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County (PTC) was formed in 1994 to distribute donated funding to local youth-serving agencies. The lack of access to pediatric dental services for children of low-income families was identified as a critical need.

Tolosa Children’s Dental Center (TCDC) 501(c)3 nonprofit organization opened in 2003, formerly named La Clinica de Tolosa. In the first year, 500 children were treated, and now averaging over 5,000 children annually. TCDC offers comprehensive quality pediatric dental services including preventive, oral health education, restorative, and emergency treatment.

Tooth decay is a significant problem in children and even more so in underserved populations. Untreated cavities lead to pain, infection, and tooth loss and can affect eating and sleeping, resulting in missed school, lower self-esteem, and negatively impacting relationship building and future employment opportunities.

TCDC has become a trusted dental center for underserved children throughout San Luis Obispo County. Without TCDC, most of these children would not receive oral health care.

Dentistry requires specialized equipment and supplies, as well as licensed professionals supported by many skilled staff. 98% of our patients are covered by Medi-Cal Dental. Despite the poor reimbursements, we have been able to keep our doors open and even expand our services through responsible fiscal management and the generous support of our community.

Dentists

Banseh Naeim

DMD

Executive Team

Alexandra Chamberlain

Alexandra Chamberlain

Development Director

Board Members

Chuck Braun

Chuck Braun

 

Jim Tedford

 

Jon Hollister

DDS – President / Chairman
Kristin-Kearns

Kristin Kearns

 
Laurie-Torgerson

Laurie Torgerson

 
Robyn-Flores

Robyn Flores

DMD
Scott-Milstead

Scott Milstead

Treasurer
Shauna-Hayes

Shauna Hayes

DMD

Wayne Custer

 

STRATEGIC PLAN

In 2016 we undertook the periodic process of defining our direction as an organization. We identified three goals that will be used to guide all our work over the next three years – first among them is to continue to serve as a dental home even more Denti-Cal children in San Luis Obispo County. Learn more HERE about the specifics of our strategic goals and objectives, and please CONTACT US for more information.

A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Tolosa Children’s Dental Center  (TCDC) collaborates with many local agencies and organizations that provide or connect low-income families to health and social services to ensure those families with children in need of dental care are aware of services available at TCDC.

TCDC staff and board members have been active participants in the SLO County Children’s Oral Health Coalition since it was formed in 2008.  The Coalition was created to provide input regarding the best strategies to improve children’s oral health in San Luis Obispo County.

Banseh Naeim

Dr. Naeim is a caring dentist who was raised in Michigan. She has a strong emphasis on providing comfortable treatment while upholding high technical standards. Dr. Naeim pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, receiving her B.A in Biology & MS in Biomedical Sciences at Wayne State University. Later she received her Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Roseman University of Health Sciences in South Jordan, Utah.

Dr. Naeim has taken many continuing education courses, including those on pediatric & restorative dentistry. Dr. Naeim is an active member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Naeim loves spending time outdoors exploring California & traveling the world. She is always looking for new adventures & enjoys tasting new cuisines. On weekends, Dr. Naeim enjoys spending time with friends & family; playing tennis, snowboarding, hiking, camping and is currently learning how to surf.

Alexandra Chamberlain

Alexandra Chamberlain

Development Director

My family chose to return to the Central Coast 15 years ago. Raising our two children and a growing “farm”, it doesn’t get much better than SLO County. I am so fortunate to do what I love, champion and advocate for local kids with a first rate non-profit. I joined TCDC in 2017 with hefty goals. The patients, staff, board and community support make TCDC a special place to work and connect the needs of our community with necessary pediatric oral health care.

I look forward to meeting more community members at our events and helping our most important residents- kids in our community.

Email the Development Director

Chuck Braun

Chuck Braun

My wife Marsha and I moved to San Luis Obispo from New York shortly after we were first married 53 years ago. During that time we have been blessed to have raised four beautiful, successful daughters in the best and most amazing environment we could have ever imagined. When we first came to SLO we thought we had arrived in paradise and after all these years we know we made the perfect decision.

I have been business owner on the Central Coast for 41 years, and retired in 2022. During that time I’ve been active in various non-profit organizations. I have also served as Board Chair of Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, and President of San Luis Obispo Kiwanis de Tolosa. It’s been a wonderful privilege to serve on the board of TCDC and help provide dental care to children from low income homes. I enjoy golf, wine tasting, grand children, travel, theater and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jim Tedford

MD – Vice President

Jim Tedford M.D. has been a member of the Board of Directors of Tolosa Children’s Dental Center since 2010. A retired general pediatrician, Jim trained at UCLA for medical school and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for his pediatric residency. After a career spanning 42 years in private practice in San Luis Obispo County, Jim retired in 2017. He’s the proud father of 3 wonderful children and 8 amazing grandchildren, 3 of whom will graduate from college this year. It’s his knowledge of, and commitment to the health and happiness of all these children, family and patients, that has led him to be a dedicated member of the board of Tolosa. He recognizes that our children’s dental health is a key component of their overall well-being and their long term success!

Jon Hollister

DDS – President / Chairman

I’m Jon Hollister and I’ve been privileged to serve on the board of the Tolosa Children’s Dental Center for over 15 years. I was born and raised in San Luis Obispo and following graduation from San Luis High I attended U. C. Davis where I obtained a B.S. in Zoology. In 1979 I graduated from U.O.P. School of Dentistry in San Francisco and returned home to join my brother in his general dentistry practice until my retirement in 2020. My wife, Maronee, a retired pharmacist, and I have been married since 1978 and we have two sons, Greg, an electrical engineer and Andrew, an anesthesiologist. I’ve been involved in the Exchange Club of San Luis Obispo, SLO Babe Ruth Baseball, the San Luis Obispo County Band, Caballeros de San Luis Obispo, and the San Luis Obispo Country Club. I’m a Life Member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association and am a past president of the Central Coast Dental Society. I am proud to be associated with such a dedicated group of staff and board members at the Tolosa Children’s Dental Center.
Kristin-Kearns

Kristin Kearns

Kristin has lived on the Central Coast most of her life, raising her 3 boys is beautiful Paso Robles. Kristin has been in banking for over 25 years and is currently the Branch Manager of CoastHills Credit Union in Paso Robles. Kristin is very passionate about her community and Tolosa Childrens dentist.
Laurie-Torgerson

Laurie Torgerson

Laurie Torgerson is Executive Director for the Central Coast Dental Society. My husband, Steve, and I have had the blessing to have lived in San Luis Obispo since 1980 and have raised our 2 children in this wonderful community. I chose to serve on the Board of Directors of Tolosa Children’s Dental Foundation 5 years ago as I believed in the inception of a non-profit dental care facility to treat the under privileged children of our county. I understood the need to provide quality dental care for children who had limited access to providers. Quality dental treatment and education are imperative for the overall health of all children. It has been a heartwarming pleasure to serve on the board to further grow the services of Tolosa Children’s Dental Center and engage with our passionate staff who devote themselves to the well-being of their young patients and families.
Robyn-Flores

Robyn Flores

Dr. Robyn Flores is a private practice dentist in San Luis Obispo County. She and her husband own and operate R&R Dental Care. She is a Central Coast native with a passion for helping underserved children in this community. When Dr. Flores is not involved in dentistry, you can find her running around town with her three active children.
Scott-Milstead

Scott Milstead

Scott Milstead (familiarly known as Scotty) joined the board following 18 years of Restaurant ownership in Pismo Beach. With a wife and two children, Scotty has always been interested in the health and well being of youth. “To play a role in an organization as valuable as Tolosa Children’s Dental Center to the physical and emotional health of children is why I happily participate on the board” says Scotty.
Shauna-Hayes

Shauna Hayes

Hi I’m Shauna and I am pleased to say that I have been a member of the Tolosa Childrens Dental Center Board of Directors for three years now. I have been a dentist for 15 years now, 13 of which have been here on the Central Coast. I own a general practice single dentist office in Arroyo Grande. I was lucky enough to graduate from the inaugural class of 2007 from Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Before that I was a Registered Dental Hygienist and lived with my husband in Honolulu HI, Colorado and Arizona. After a short time living Missoula MT where my parents reside, My family and I moved to Shell Beach to be near the ocean and to be a part of this amazing dental community. My husband of 32 years, and my son who is now 13 are my whole life. We love outdoor sports most especially Snowboarding. And this past summer we tried out the lake life and began wakeboarding. We love dogs and have two chocolate labs who are our fur babies.

Wayne Custer

I was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan. After returning from Military service, I took a job as a delivery driver for a dental lab. I apprenticed under the University of Michigan guidelines for 8 years. In 1977 I married my wife Terresa and then moved to Lansing Mich. I started a job for Life Mark Corp which owned numerous hospitals and Labs throughout the country. I was promoted to manage a large lab in Oklahoma City, where my daughter, Nicole was born in 1982. It was at Life Mark Corp that I learned Business and personal management. My family and I moved to California in 1985 to work in Research and Development with Den-Mat Corp in Santa Maria. My Wife and I bought a retail business in Pismo Beach in 1989 while I ran a private dental laboratory. Both of which we still own to this day.