Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic

12/11/2025

🦷 Honoring Those Who Served 🇺🇸
Yesterday, we paused to honor the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and our country.

Today and every day we’re proud to recognize the veterans in our Hunt School of Dental Medicine community who continue to serve others through compassionate care and dedication to our patients at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic.

Thank you for your service and your continued commitment to helping smiles shine brighter in our Borderplex community. ❤️💙

*Not pictured due to scheduling conflict,
Will Henard, Senior Clinical Administrator.

12/11/2025

💫 Honoring Veteran's, Generosity, Excellence, and Community Spirit 💫
In 2022, El Paso orthodontist and U.S. Army veteran Dr. Jaime Rivera of Rivera Orthodontics, along with his wife, Karina Rivera, made a generous $25,000 commitment to the Hunt School of Dental Medicine Scholarship Fund at Texas Tech Health El Paso. 🎓🦷

Their gift supports , helping to relieve financial burdens for the next generation of leaders in oral health care so they can focus on their education and dedication to improving lives across our Borderplex.

Dr. Rivera served at Fort Bliss and spent a year in Iraq providing for anyone in need of dental care at Camp Bucca before ultimately choosing to make El Paso his family’s permanent home. Since opening Rivera Orthodontics (Rivera Orthodontics) in 2013, Dr. Rivera has become one of a handful of board-certified orthodontists in El Paso and a trusted leader in his field. Known for his compassionate approach and commitment to excellence, he has transformed countless smiles, and lives, through his work.

At the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, we share Dr. Rivera’s passion for service and lifelong learning. His generosity helps ensure that our students can continue building on this legacy, creating the next generation of oral health leaders who will serve our region with skill, integrity, and heart. 💙

04/11/2025

🎊 We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Salma Elwazeer, Hunt School of Dental Medicine Director of Public Health Education and Interprofessional Education, for receiving the 2025 ADA Foundation Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award! 🏆

This national honor recognizes leaders expanding access to oral health education and care. With a $5,000 leadership grant, Dr. Elwazeer will continue advancing community-centered dental education and inspiring to serve with compassion, collaboration, and cultural understanding—benefiting patients across our Borderplex community. ❤️

👏 Congratulations, Dr. Elwazeer, on this incredible achievement! ⚕️

04/11/2025

🎊 We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Salma Elwazeer, Hunt School of Dental Medicine Director of Public Health Education and Interprofessional Education, for receiving the 2025 ADA Foundation Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award! 🏆

This national honor recognizes leaders expanding access to oral health education and care. With a $5,000 leadership grant, Dr. Elwazeer will continue advancing community-centered dental education and inspiring to serve with compassion, collaboration, and cultural understanding—benefiting patients across our Borderplex community. ❤️

👏 Congratulations, Dr. Elwazeer, on this incredible achievement!⚕️

31/10/2025

👻Enjoy your treats today…but don’t trick your teeth! 🍬🦷
After all the Halloween sweets and snacks, your smile deserves a checkup.
🎃Book your post-Halloween cleaning at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, where healthy smiles are always in season! 🦷

From routine cleanings to restorative care, we’ll keep your smile fright-free all year long.
📅 Schedule today: 915-215-6700

30/10/2025

🎉 Congratulations to our incredible dean, Dr. Richard Black! 🎉

Last night in front of friends, family and colleagues, Dr. Richard Black, founding dean of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, was named a 2025 Junior Achievement of El Paso Business Hall of Fame laureate.

A proud El Paso native, Dr. Black returned to his roots after completing his education at Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston. He went on to serve our community as an orthodontist for 40 years before becoming founding dean of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine.

For more than four decades, Dr. Black has demonstrated unwavering commitment to education, innovation, and public health, shaping the future of dentistry and making a lasting impact on our Borderplex.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Black and this well-deserved honor ! 🏅

https://www.facebook.com/jaofthedesertsouthwest/

28/10/2025

🫶🦷

📣 You’re invited! Join us as we celebrate our students’ commitment to serving the El Paso community through care, compassion and collaboration. ❤️

🩺 Student Clinic Highlight Event: In Community for our Community
📅 Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
🕛 12–1 p.m.
📍 Texas Tech Health El Paso – MEB 1200

Enjoy lunch (for the first 50 guests) and hear from students leading impactful community health initiatives, such as the Mobile Care Unit, Oral Health Clinic, Hope Health Fair, and more.

Let’s come together — in community, for our community. 💪

23/10/2025

✨ Recap: 2nd Annual Hunt School of Dental Medicine Job Fair! 🦷
Earlier this month, our welcomed prospective employers to campus for our 2nd Annual Job Fair!

Our Hunt School of Dental Medicine students gave tours of the Dental Learning Center and Oral Health Clinic, showcasing where they learn, practice essential skills, and treat patients from our Borderplex region.

Following the tours, students had the opportunity to engage with approximately 20 dental practices and even received on-the-spot interviews! Participating dental offices came from across West Texas and our Borderplex, including representatives from national Dental Service Organizations.

A huge thank you to every dental practice that joined us to learn about the only dental school located along the U.S.-Mexico border and the first dental school to open in Texas in over 50 years!

20/10/2025

🦷❤️ Collaboration for Healthy Smiles! 💙🦷
Students from the Hunt School of Dental Medicine and El Paso Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program teamed up for a hands-on collaboration that brought future dental colleagues together at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, connecting preventive and restorative care for local patients.

EPCC students provided cleanings and screenings, while third-year dental students followed up with comprehensive exams and restorative treatment plans.

This collaboration showcased the power of teamwork in health care education, giving students on both sides of the dental field the opportunity to learn from one another, bridge the gap between preventive and restorative care, and strengthen their shared commitment to patient well-being.

Through this initiative, both Texas Tech Health El Paso and El Paso Community College continue to strengthen their partnership and mission to expand access to care and prepare the next generation of oral health professionals dedicated to improving smiles across our Borderplex. 🌟