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A Season of Thanks
As we welcome fall, I’m filled with gratitude for our staff, donors and partners whose compassion and generosity make our mission possible.
As Minnesota’s largest provider of comprehensive dental care for people of all ages enrolled in public programs and those who are uninsured, we provide 140,000 patient visits each year across five clinics in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Buffalo.
We also reach 18,000 children and families annually with preventive education and services at 70 community locations. But behind every number is a person: a child who needs urgent dental care, an adult struggling to afford relief from dental pain, or a family learning how to protect their oral health. Your support makes a difference in every one of these lives.
This season, we remain committed to delivering culturally responsive care, expanding prevention and education, training future professionals and advocating for access to oral health care for all. Thank you for being part of our mission and helping build healthier communities across Minnesota.
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Karen Flanagan Kleinhans, MHA
Chief Executive Officer
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Accessible Cost-Effective Care
Dr. Shivan Nelson, Dental Director, recently shared a story about a young adult patient, Jeff*, who arrived at our clinic as an emergency visit with severe tooth pain and facial swelling that threatened his ability to breathe. Despite several hospital emergency room visits for antibiotics, he couldn’t find a dentist who accepted his public insurance. Thankfully, Jeff found Community Dental Care– and we were able to provide treatment that very same day.
Jeff’s experience illustrates a broader challenge facing many Minnesotans. Dental infections frequently lead patients to emergency rooms, which can’t adequately address dental disease and often charge upwards of $1,000 for a single visit. In contrast, Community Dental Care can treat the dental disease at a small fraction of the cost, providing a more affordable and effective path to relief.
*Name has been changed to protect patient confidentiality.
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Shivan Nelson, DDS
Dental Director
| | When Life Hurts, Help Matters | | |
When our school-based sealant program screened 7-year-old Lucy*, we found several large cavities and a draining abscess. Lucy’s mother knew she needed treatment but hadn’t been able to find a clinic she felt the family could afford. For many families living on the margins, the cost of a private dental visit and associated unpaid time off work can make it nearly impossible to afford rent or put food on the table.
Through the generosity of donors, we were able to provide Lucy with a Care Grant, ensuring cost was not a barrier to the care she needed. Lucy’s response was touching: Could her little sister have the appointment instead? Her sister’s teeth hurt, and Lucy wanted her to get help first. Fortunately, we provided Care Grants for both girls and scheduled their appointments on the same day, reducing the time their mother needed to take off work.
“With the expansion of our pediatric clinic at the new location, we now have additional providers who focus on serving children and the capacity to see them much sooner than we could before,” shared Kara Richard, Director of Community Health Programs. “It has made such a difference in our ability to respond quickly when a child is in pain.”
Through school outreach, financial assistance and expanded pediatric care, we help families overcome barriers so children can receive the treatment they so desperately need.
*Name has been changed to protect patient confidentiality. The image is illustrative of our program and not of the individual featured in this story.
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Save the Date: Give to the Max
Give to the Max Day is Minnesota’s annual giving movement that supports nonprofits across the state. You can support Community Dental Care by making a secure online gift through GiveMN. Early giving starts November 1, and this year, Give to the Max Day is Thursday, November 19. Your donation helps expand access to comprehensive, high-quality dental care for children, adults and families in our community.
Donors can give online, send a check by mail, make a recurring gift, recommend a grant through a donor-advised fund (DAF) or make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) directly from an IRA. Every gift helps advance Community Dental Care’s mission and improve access to care for those who need it most. Visit givemn.org/organization/Cdentc or cdentc.org/donate to plan your gift today. Community Dental Care (EIN 04-3692982)
| | | | Donor Spotlight: the Peter J. King Family Foundation | | |
Last year marked a historic milestone for Community Dental Care with the opening of our largest dental clinic to date. Made possible through the generosity of dedicated community partners, including the Peter J. King Family Foundation, this transformative 32,000-square-foot facility with 40 dental operatories significantly expands access to high-quality, comprehensive dental care for children and families in need throughout the East Metro.
This milestone was made possible by generous community partners, including the Peter J. King Family Foundation, whose commitment to improving the lives of children and families and building stronger communities closely aligns with Community Dental Care’s mission.
Through its support, the Foundation helped turn an ambitious vision into a lasting community resource, one that will give thousands of children and families greater access to the quality dental care they need.
Russell King, President of the Peter J. King Family Foundation, reflected on the Foundation’s commitment to this work, “Investing in dental care is also an investment in educational success, family well-being and stronger, healthier communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to support Community Dental Care and deeply thankful to the team members who dedicate themselves to caring for children and families every day.”
Access to dental care can change the trajectory of a child’s life. When children are healthy, they are better able to learn, grow and thrive. By expanding access to essential oral health services, the Foundation is helping reduce health disparities and opening doors to brighter futures for underserved children. We are honored by their partnership and grateful for their commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.
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Celebrating a Year of Smiles
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open House on September 11, celebrating the first full year of our newest and largest location, the Peter J. King Family Foundation Dental Clinic. We were honored to welcome you, provide tours of the new space, introduce you to our team and celebrate the incredible impact we’ve made during our first year.
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