Healthy Smiles Dental Center

Lansing, Michigan

“The best part of my rotations has been my time spent at the Healthy Smiles Dental Center in Lansing,” fourth–year dental student Kelly Ladd said. Her one–week rotation there and at a previous site, she added, “have increased my speed, my confidence, and have improved my skills as a student dentist.”

Dental student Kelly Ladd (right) asks 7-year-old Connor Kassab to open wide as she begins her work with help from dental assistant Michelle Morris.

Managed by the Ingham County Health Department, Healthy Smiles provides preventive, routine, restorative, and emergency dental care to Medicaid and uninsured children under the age of 18. The site also participates in the MI–Child and Healthy Kids programs. Dental services are available to adults 18 and older at a separate site.

“Demand is very high in our community and it’s not being met, so, frequently we’re providers of last resort,” says Barbara Mastin, chief operating officer with the Ingham County Health Department.

“Because University of Michigan dental students are working with our dentists, and as a result of some internal changes we made, we have recorded an extra 1,000 patient visits annually compared to two years ago,” she adds. More than 11,200 patient visits for dental care were recorded at both sites last year.

The state of the local economy has played a role in the growing number of patients treated. However, the state’s decision several years ago to cut, but later reinstate, dental benefits for adult Medicaid patients has also contributed to an increased workload.

Another reason more patients are receiving dental care at the Ingham County sites is because the county health department is one of just two in all of Michigan that provides federally–mandated health assessments, including oral health screenings, to refugees within 90 days of their arrival in the U.S.

“On Your Toes” Atmosphere

Dentists at Healthy Smiles have a busy schedule. They currently have 12 scheduled patient appointments daily, and are responsible for emergencies, hygiene checks, and precepting dental students.

“It’s an on your toes type of atmosphere,” Ladd said. “The pace makes the work more challenging because you never know when a four–year–old will reach their limit. So you learn to work quickly, but efficiently.”

Ladd, who wants to become a general dentist treating pediatric patients, says one important lesson she learned was taking time to explain things “to reassure them we won’t hurt them and that we’re nice dentists.”

Part of that includes “telling them we don’t pull teeth, we just wiggle them out; and that we don’t give shots, we use sleepy juice (the anesthetic) that puts their teeth to sleep.”

A part–time dentist who works at Healthy Smiles, Dr. Gordon Shaffer (DDS 1960), says the work is rewarding.

“The dental school’s outreach program gives me a great opportunity to stay involved with the students, to learn more about what they’re learning and doing, and even help the very young patients who come here. I’m the grandpa of the group and I think that helps put the kids at ease when they’re here,” he says. “It’s a great experience, and I would encourage my colleagues who are looking for an opportunity to make a difference to help at clinics like this.”