MyChart Login
UKIAH, CA — MCHC Health Centers continues to expand its team of dental health providers in the region. Last month, MCHC Health Centers welcomed back Dr. Sunilkumar Kadaba, who will see dental patients of all ages at Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport.
MCHC Dental Director Dr. Neha Sharma said, “We are very excited to have Dr. Kadaba back on our team. He is mission driven and offers compassionate patient focused care. Patients frequently highlight him as gentle, kind and as someone who truly cares about their well-being.”
Kadaba previously worked with MCHC from 2021-2023 and is eager to return to providing dental care in the area.
Fluent in English and Hindi, Kadaba was born and raised in India, where his interest in dentistry began early, thanks to the family dentist in his hometown. “He was a very interesting person,” Kadaba says. “It made me curious.” Kadaba earned a degree in dental surgery from Bapuji Dental College and Hospital in Davanagere and practiced dentistry in India for more than 10 years.
He moved to the United States in 1999 and, in 2003, earned his dental license from the State of California and began working as a dentist in Visalia and Fresno. He then worked for the State of California, providing dental care to incarcerated individuals for more than a decade. That experience shaped his perspective as a provider. “When you work in one system for a long time, you realize how many people struggle to access basic healthcare,” he says.
After retiring, Kadaba spent time traveling with his wife. When they visited the Mendocino area, he learned more about the work of Federally Qualified Health Centers like MCHC, which provide care to underserved communities that he believes is vitally important.
“It’s a wonderful concept,” Kadaba says of FQHCs. Otherwise, “some people have no access to basic healthcare. MCHC is doing a wonderful service for the people here.”
Dental care is one aspect of healthcare that is often not prioritized, especially for those who do not have insurance coverage or have limited financial means. And, some people associate going to the dentist with pain or discomfort.
There are many ways to make dental care more comfortable than it may have been in the past. All of it, Kadaba says, starts with communication.
“It helps to just talk with patients. I try to get to know them and help them get more comfortable,” he says. “That helps them come to know the dentist isn’t scary; they’re just a person like everybody else.”
Still, he can relate to patients who may be hesitant—he does not like getting his blood drawn and gets nervous during his annual physical, even as a medical provider. But talking about these things and sharing concerns allows patients to receive better care and sometimes, accommodations that can make a visit less stressful.
Dental care is important because it affects much more than just the mouth. “Dental health impacts the entire body,” Kadaba says. Dental hygiene impacts cardiovascular health, respiratory health, and even one’s sense of confidence and self-esteem.
By having regular dental visits—ideally, twice a year for cleanings and exams—it becomes easier to care for teeth, identify issues early, and help patients understand the best ways to care for their teeth and gums outside of the office.
Kadaba is happy to be back at MCHC, where he has the opportunity to get to know new patients and reconnect with some from his previous time in the area. “I really enjoyed being here with the friendly patients,” he says. “I love the team and working here.”
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, going to movies, and spending time with family, including his one-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter. He especially enjoys discovering theaters that screen independent and international films.
MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.