New Public Health Dental Clinic in Sturgis

Sturgis will soon be the new home of the fourth public dental
center operated by My Community Dental Centers, Inc. (MCDC) on behalf of the
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. The center will be a new
resource open to the community and will serve children and adults enrolled in Medicaid,
including Healthy Kids Dental, MiChild and the Healthy Michigan Plan, as well as low
income people who lack dental insurance. The center will also serve persons with
private insurance.
MCDC currently operates 31 public dental centers on behalf of local health
departments throughout the state. The organization focuses on quality care that is
patient-centered and patient-friendly. “MCDC looks forward to providing a dental home
for residents in Sturgis and surrounding communities who have previously been unable
to find a dentist” said Dr. Amanda Desjardins, D.D.S., Chief Dental Officer for MCDC.
It is anticipated the four chair center, with capacity for six chairs, will be opening
in November 2016. New patients interested in making an appointment can call 877-313-
6232. The center, which will be located at 1525 E. US 12, in the Maplecrest Plaza, will
provide comprehensive dental services including: oral exam/cleanings, fillings, tooth
removal, partials, dentures, and other dental procedures. A sliding fee schedule, based
on household income, is also available.
A lack of access to dental care negatively affects the community’s health and
well-being. “This new center is a much needed asset in the community” stated Rebecca
Burns, Health Officer for the tri-county health department. “The county has been
classified as a dental health professional shortage area by the federal government for
some time. We look forward to having this new resource available to our residents who
need oral health care but cannot find a provider.”
To learn more about the dental centers, including more about the services they
provide, visit the MCDC website at mydental.org. To learn more about other locallybased
healthcare services available in St. Joseph County, visit Step Up St. Joseph
County at www.stepupsjc.net and like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/stepupst.josephcounty.