Muskegon Family Care

Muskegon Heights, Michigan

“It’s one of the more unusual reasons for coming to a dentist that I have experienced,” said fourth–year dental student Yohan Ghang after he finished treating a 16–year–old at Muskegon Family Care’s dental clinic last fall.

The patient, Randee Perry, told Ghang that a friend inadvertently kicked her in the jaw during cheerleading practice. She sustained a minor tooth fracture.

Dental student Yohan Ghang uses his hands to show patient Randee Perry the correct way her teeth should be aligned after he treated her for a minor tooth fracture after being inadvertently kicked by a friend during cheerleading practice.

“You never know what kind of help the next patient will need, which is one of the great things about working in community clinics,” said Ghang who once worked part time in the records room at the School of Dentistry after earning his bachelor’s degree at U–M. “It’s been a great experience for me, treating patients with different needs, treating more patients, and being able to make my own decisions.”

Former Outreach Student Now Dental Director

Since it opened in late 2000, the dental clinic has been serving residents in Muskegon Heights and surrounding areas including Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana, and Kent counties, according to dental director Dr. Amy Lalick (DDS 2000). U–M dental students began their rotations at Muskegon Family Care last June.

“We absolutely love having them here,” said Lalick who was among the first members of her fourth–year dental class to participate in the School’s outreach program when it substantially expanded in the spring of 2000.

“The need in this community is so great,” she said. “The help we get from the dental students allows us to help more patients than we would otherwise be able to.”

In 2007, approximately 7,000 patients received dental care at Muskegon Family Care’s 10–chair clinic on Oak Road and a one–chair clinic on South Getty. Between 40 and 50 percent were Medicaid patients; the others were uninsured, according to Lalick.

“Dental students jump in the moment they walk in the door,” she said with a smile. “They usually see three patients in the morning and one in the afternoon, and others, if necessary.”

Ghang said “it wasn’t unusual” for him to see as many as seven or eight patients a day, including those with appointments and walk–ins.

One of those working with the dental students is Dr. Thomas Krygier, a former general practice dentist for 33 years in Grand Rapids. “Dr. Tom,” as he’s affectionately referred to, sold his practice to his associate and has been at the clinic part time for four years.

“I enjoy volunteering because the clinic and the community needs the help,” he said. “I also enjoy working with the dental students.”

In addition to their enthusiasm, Krygier applauded their clinical and patient management skills. “They get other experiences here, including working with a diverse patient population, that help round them out professionally. All of that will help them to become even better clinicians once they graduate.”

Ghang said he may enter public health dentistry after he graduates. “I got interested in dentistry when I was working part time at the dental school and later learned I had an impacted wisdom tooth. I simply walked down a hallway to get care. But later I asked myself, ‘What about those who don’t have the access to care that I did?’ I realized that there are many others who are not that fortunate. I want to help them similar to the way I was helped.”