Dental Students Fill Void in Michigan’s Rural Dental Care Landscape
In the picturesque town of Atlanta, Michigan, securing quality dental care can be a daunting task. However, Becky Klein found solace in the services provided by the Thunder Bay Community Health Service dental clinic. What might surprise many is that the competent hands attending to her and her teenage sons belonged to University of Michigan dental students.
Klein was pleased with the professionalism and direct communication the student dentists offered her family. “I was really impressed with the whole clinic…The appointment worked out like any other dental experience. And my boys were happy,” Klein shared.
Each year, dental students from the University of Michigan embark on a journey through the Community-Based Collaborative Care & Education program (CBCE), making their mark in rural clinics across Michigan. In Atlanta, these students are an indispensable part of the dental clinic, handling up to 18 patients daily and helping to accommodate the 48 new patient appointments made each week.
The Rural Healthcare Challenge
The scarcity of dental professionals in Atlanta, known as the “Elk Capital of Michigan,” reflects a broader trend in rural northern Michigan. Dana Arnold, manager of the Thunder Bay clinic, points out that many practitioners are retiring without successors. Combined with the increasing reluctance of dentists to accept Medicare and Medicaid, this has left a significant gap in care.
For those in the surrounding six counties, including Alpena and Montmorency, accessing a dentist often involves lengthy travel, with some patients driving up to two hours for appointments.
Experiential Learning in Practice
For students Hasan Khaliq, Mitchell Selin, and Joey Wilmot, their internship at Thunder Bay offers invaluable hands-on experience. Each day is filled with diverse dental procedures, from surgical extractions to addressing pediatric dental anxieties, providing them a real-world glimpse into their future profession.
Khaliq reflects on the challenges faced by patients with limited dental access and nonfluoridated water, noting the differences in dental health and perspectives compared to other areas. Selin describes the internship as “the highlight of my dental school experience,” emphasizing the exposure to practical, real-world dentistry.
The presence of U-M’s dental interns is pivotal not just for patient care but also for their professional growth. The students gain experience in independent decision-making and patient management, while patients benefit from attentive and affordable care. Dana Arnold emphasizes the importance of this exposure, stating, “They’re seeing the harder side of dental and that is their chance to make a difference.”
Chase McNamara, a former intern who chose to stay on as a licensed dentist and now serves as the dental director, embodies the program’s success. Having initially planned to leave Michigan, McNamara found a rewarding career at the Thunder Bay clinic, driven by the community’s appreciation and need for dental services.
