Meeting our mission and impacting the community | A message from the Dean
One of the goals noted in MPact 2025, our strategic plan that culminates this year, was to promote oral health through community education and service as an integral component of health and wellbeing. One of the ways that we have been able to achieve this goal and train our students is through our Mobile Dental Clinic. Recently, we were asked to provide the state legislature with information, and I asked the Division of Community Outreach and Engagement to compile some five-year data. Kudos to Drs. Michael Henderson (current director) and Susan Buck-Wischmeier (former director) for their work on the MDC.
During the period of 2019-2024, we treated approximately 1000 patients annually and performed 2,317 procedures at a total care value of $163,167. More than 50% of the patients served have Medicaid insurance. There were 27.17% seniors, 13.08% children, and 6.42% patients with special needs treated on the MDC. The clinic also incorporates the use of translation and interpretation services, and has wheelchair lift accessibility. Utilization ranges from 83.3% to 96% across sixteen sites that the MDC travels to. The sites include Blaine, Forest Lake, North & South Minneapolis, Roseville, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley, West St. Paul, Austin, Duluth, North Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud, Walker and Winona.
The Mobile Dental Clinic is a vital community health initiative that provides accessible, high-quality dental care to underserved populations across both metro and rural areas in Minnesota. The MDC serves individuals insured through Medicaid and Medicare as well as patients with special health care needs, bridging the gap in dental care accessibility for communities with limited provider options.
The program partners with local organizations, community centers and health care providers to bring preventive and restorative dental care directly to patients who might otherwise go without it. The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry is one of the only dental schools in the country with this specific model of care. Common services that are provided are preventive treatments (fluoride, sealants, cleanings, silver diamine fluoride placement), diagnostic services (exams, X-rays) and restorative care (fillings, extractions, denture adjustments).
The impact of the Mobile Dental Clinic would not be possible if it were not for our partnership with and support from external stakeholders. The MDC has been supported by UCare and a state appropriation. Our ability to provide care through a mobile means is only possible because of this relationship and support. I am extremely grateful to our faculty, staff and students who provide care together on the Mobile Dental Clinic.