Metropolitan State model

ST. PAUL, Minnesota--Metropolitan State University expands community access to affordable dental care with a new model that does not include state money.

The university plans to open Oct. 20, 2011, a new dental teaching clinic for its Master of Science: Oral Health Care Practitioner students in Maplewood.

The new site will enable students to provide low-cost dental care for underserved community members as the students complete required clinical hours for their degree and licensure.

The clinic has seven working stations and is equipped with digital radiography, electronic patient records, and projection capabilities linking the stations to a seminar room located in the clinic. Two of the stations were designed to accommodate patients with special needs.

Major funding for the new clinic is being provided by Delta Dental of Minnesota Trust and Henry Schein. Additional support is coming from 3M, American Dental Hygienists Association, Colgate, Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, Hardenbergh Foundation, Jean and Bruce Johnson, the Minnesota Department of Health and the United Way.

“Metropolitan State University’s new dental teaching clinic not only provides students with opportunities to develop practical skills, but also prepares them for their mission to provide accessible and affordable dental care for community members who do not have dental insurance,” said Sue Hammersmith, president, Metropolitan State University. “It is the epitome of our university’s desire to provide a place where life and learning meet.”

Oral health care students complete coursework at Metropolitan State University

Ann Leja, interim dean, Metropolitan State University College of Nursing and Health Sciences, added, “The clinic is located adjacent to Community Dental Care, which enables students to work with a large group of community health dentists who support our program, and to conveniently refer patients who need emergency care or other advanced services that the students cannot meet.”

Metropolitan State projects that the four students in its second cohort of ADT students will serve 220 patients at the clinic in 2012 as part of their clinical coursework, providing evaluations, individual care plans, and oral health education, as well as additional restorative care for some patients.

About 75% of these patients will receive cleaning or other preventive care, and approximately 165 radiographs will be taken and interpreted. These four students will transition their clinical hours from the Normandale Community College teaching clinic to the Metropolitan State’s new Maplewood clinic. Five students from the first cohort will also be completing their hours at the new facility.

For more information, go to www.metrostate.edu/msweb/explore/cnhs/index.html.

To comment on this topic, go to community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/.