Northern Dental Access Center

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Northern Dental Access Center is a nonprofit, non-competitive dental service for the underprivileged and underinsured, providing access and education for emergency and preventive care, paying particular attention to children. Designed to provide a dental home to the most vulnerable people in the rural county of Beltrami, the program will serve low income people who are on Minnesota Care and Medical Assistance or those who are participants of local-government subsidized programs. With seven fully functioning facilities, the Dental Access Center provides dental treatment, preventative oral health education, and assistance to target populations in making appointments. Overall, the program has the health goals of treating disease and infection, eliminating pain, providing referrals for specialty care, educating patients on preventative care; providing preventative care, and expanding public health programs regarding oral health. Currently, the county has hired local dentists to work for two to three days a week with the hiring of a full-time dentist underway. Since its opening, approximately twenty clients have been served per day.