People living with disabilities often face long waits to get into dental clinics as many offices either do not accept Medical Assistance or have a long wait list for patients whose coverage is tied to government benefits. It can be a huge burden for providers to secure appointments, so last month the people we support at Living Well, as well as our employees, were offered appointments at a unique dental pop-up located at our offices in Mendota Heights.
This three-day dental clinic was made possible by a generous grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. Their mission to support optimal oral and overall health outcomes while advancing social equities by expanding access to dental care and investing in communities across Minnesota was a perfect fit for a partnership. The grant was put together by our development team after learning more about the hardship of finding accessible dental care for people with disabilities, so their mission and our request were perfectly aligned.
Over the years the gap in services available for people supported at Living Well coupled with the inability to secure appointments for many, put this need right at the top of the Dream List. The challenges people with intellectual and developmental disabilities sometimes face in respect to oral health are what made access to accessible care in a known environment a goal here at Living Well. Reliance on caregivers for help with brushing, flossing or denture cleaning adds an extra layer to oral care for many with disabilities. Add in that many people with disabilities take medications that affect the condition of their gums and teeth, suffer from anxiety or have behavior escalation related to procedures, and it becomes clear that access to dental health services is imperative, which makes this grant even more impactful.
This was the second clinic this year, and in 2025 there will be four more.
Over three days hygienists and a dentist from Jet Dental provided care for 58 people served by Living Well, 54 staff members, and seven family members of our staff. Jet Dental provides pop-up clinics like this all over the country, most often to corporations looking for ways to make dental visits convenient for their employees. They also provide care for professional sports teams, prisons, and schools. Their level of service was top notch and due to the more intimate model, the level of care needed for some of the folks we serve was able to far exceed norms.
Everyone benefitted from the commitment to personalized service. One individual was having a hard time and did not want to sit in the dental chair. Much to our delight, the hygienist and dentist met them where they were, and the cleaning and dental exam took place on the floor to accommodate their needs. Two other people from Living Well homes typically find dental visits stressful and were able to successfully make it through completed exams and cleanings even though they historically received dental care under general anesthesia.
Megan Burgeson, Staff Nurse and DSP, was impressed with the care of services and access provided for the people she cares for. She told the story of someone who came to Living Well almost three years ago. Megan said, “This clinic offered her the opportunity to get a cleaning which was beneficial for her overall health. Adding, “This is important because it allowed her to get the care she needed, an essential cleaning, while waiting for an in-clinic appointment with a local dentist. And this also filled a gap in care for another person at the home she lives in as well.”
Dr. Jeff Johnson, Chief Dental Officer at Jet Dental, was part of the team that got down to the floor to provide accessible density to one of our people. He loved the experience, and said, “If I could do this full time, I would. This population is just so great. I get the opportunity to do this with schools and big corporations, and this type of organization, along with the VA are my favorites because I get to focus on the people, and their needs. I just love working with people with special needs, and this allows me to do what I enjoy and make an impact on their dental health.”
Director of Nursing, Nicole Touroutoutoudis, was impressed with the level of service and compassion. Nicole says, “People with intellectual and development disabilities can have mobility issues, and do not always understand the importance of dental care but understand how uncomfortable it can be.” From the eyes of some providers, they do not always cooperate or act like their typical patients at dental appointments. For this reason, clinics like the one at Living Well are exceptional examples of what is possible when you take an outside the box approach to care. Nicole adds, “Having a dental provider that is willing to be creative and complete x-rays and cares on the floor is the difference between someone having the opportunity to receive dental care or not. This flexibility and creativeness would not happen in a traditional dental clinic or with most dental providers.”
CEO, Tom Gillespie, says, “This is such a meaningful partnership. When we could not find adequate community resources, our team began to dream big, we are so thrilled that Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation was willing to dream with us. This is an incredible representation of our mission to provide exceptional services, and we couldn’t be happier with the impact of this collaboration.”
Individual Giving Manager, Jamee Yung, says, “Accessible dental care is a critical component of health equity, and the Living Well Disability Services’ partnership with Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation helps make a difference where it is most needed.”
For this level of personalized service, and so many other reasons, we are grateful for the grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, and for the exceptional care provided by Jet Dental staff. Because of their commitment to accessible appointments, dental care was made available to over 100 people from Living Well.
It truly is amazing what is made possible with financial support from foundations, businesses, families and individuals.
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