Co-ops bring children dental care

Youngsters who otherwise couldn't afford to see a dentist will get the attention they need, thanks to a helping hand from four North Dakota electric cooperatives.

Electric Co-op Today - January 17, 2012
Michael W. Kahn

See the story with a photo: Co-ops bring children dental care

The co-ops are sponsoring the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, which will hit the roads of western North Dakota.

“We were approached initially by the local Ronald McDonald House here in Bismarck,” said Mary Klecker-Green, communications manager at Basin Electric Power Cooperative. “They felt that the cooperatives’ commitment to community, and service within the western part of the state, would be a good match with what they were doing.”

After hearing the group’s presentation, Klecker-Green said support was a no-brainer.

“It was definitely a very easy project to get behind because of the amount of good that it’s going to bring to our state.”

KEM Electric Cooperative, Linton, McKenzie Electric Cooperative, Watford City, and Slope Electric Cooperative, New England, joined with Basin Electric to back the Care Mobile.

The Care Mobile is now in North Dakota and will roll in February. Inside is all the equipment you would find in a traditional dental office.

Free/reduced fee school lunch statistics are being used to identify communities with the greatest need, where the Care Mobile will stop for a few days. And when it’s not in operation, the Care Mobile will sometimes be able to park at sponsoring co-op facilities.

Ronald McDonald House contracts with Bridging the Dental Gap, a Bismarck clinic, for dental professionals to staff the Care Mobile. “Some local dentists also choose to volunteer their time,” Klecker-Green added.

The co-ops expect everyone aboard will be kept busy.

“One thing we don’t always think about is the impact of the lack of dental care to a child’s health,” Klecker-Green said. “It’s not just having bad teeth; poor dental health often leads to other serious medical issues.”

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