Dr. Kim Lucas Benton, DDS, MPH

Dr. Kim Lucas Benton, was raised in San Francisco, CA. She is a general dentist in private practice in Daly City, CA. She is a graduate of Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry class of 1988.   Initially, following graduation from Meharry, Dr Benton joined her father in private practice, and in 1998, after gaining considerable experience, she decided it was time to venture out on her own.

In 1994, Dr Benton joined the faculty at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni, School of Dentistry.  She began her career as part-time clinical instructor in the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Treatment planning at the invitation of Dr. Peter Jacobsen.   Dr Benton left Pacific Dugoni briefly in the year 2001 as her priorities in life changed. In the fall of 2010, she was a speaker host at the CDA for Dr. Alan Budenz.  At the end of the day, Dr Budenz asked her “when are you coming back”?  She returned in January of 2011 and is currently part-time Assistant Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences. She truly enjoys working with her students and interacting with the outstanding faculty and staff.

Dr Benton received her Master’s in Public Health in June 2018 from Capella University.  Her focus is to create the awareness of the important connection between Diabetes and Oral Health in dental clinical settings and within our communities.  She has done extensive research over the past four years and has come to realize that there is a huge disconnect with Oral Health and the systemic connection.