UAB Civitan-Sparks Dental Clinic

For many children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a dental visit can be overwhelming. Sensory sensitivities, limited mobility, anxiety, and medical complexity often make routine care difficult, or even impossible, at traditional dental offices. At the UAB Civitan-Sparks Dental Clinic, compassionate, specialized care changes that experience every day.

For decades, Sparks Dental Clinic has served as a lifeline for families across Alabama. It is the only clinic in the state dedicated exclusively to dental care for patients with IDD, including individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other conditions. Sparks Dental Clinic provides more than treatment: it offers dignity, patience, and an environment designed to meet patients where they are.

The demand for care far exceeds current capacity. With only two aging operatories and outdated equipment, families often wait months for appointments, and clinicians must work around limitations that impact comfort, efficiency, and diagnosis. Replacing this equipment will immediately expand access, improve safety, reduce wait times, and create a calmer, more welcoming space for patients who need it most.

Every gift makes a difference. Your support helps ensure that every Sparks Dental Clinic patient is valued, every family feels supported, and every smile has a place to belong.

For a full list of UAB Giving Days projects, click here.