Samuels Sinclair Dental Center

Serving our Community

A 75-Year History

The Samuels Sinclair Dental Center opened on
March 23, 1931 as part of Rhode Island Hospital's division of dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Colonel Joseph Samuels, then owner of the Outlet Company and WJAR-TV, made a generous donation to fund the construction and opening of the center to ensure that children whose parents could not afford to pay would be provided with adequate dental care.

The late Joseph S. Sinclair, his grandson, recently continued this tradition of generosity with a significant charitable donation. Our new name now reflects the legacy of his family's support.

Today, the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center is the state's largest and oldest dental care practice for children and adults with special needs. It is one of the first clinics of its kind to provide comprehensive dental care within a general hospital. Our newly renovated clinic includes 11 state-of-the-art computerized dental operatories.

Fun Facts:

• In 1943, an initial patient visit cost only 25 cents!
• In 1949, 54 percent of child patients who visited the dental center had never been to the dentist before. Each child averaged 8 to 12 decayed teeth.
• The Samuels Sinclair Dental Center has made a lasting impression on patients and staff. The average tenure of center staff is 17 years!

"Through collaboration with our medical colleagues, academic and educational initiatives, community outreach and advocacy, our staff addresses our patients' needs, which are often far greater than their dental needs," said Shirley Spater Freedman, DMH, MPH, Samuels Sinclair Dental Center director.

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