Since 1901, the mission of the Dental Center Northwest Ohio has been to provide primary oral health services for under-served children and adults in Northwest Ohio, to promote the value of good oral health through education and to serve as an advocate for those with limited access to dental care.
Serving residents in eighteen Northwest Ohio counties
Providing dental services for 25,000+ individuals annually
Accepting all forms of Medicaid and most private insurances
Offering reduced treatment fees for uninsured patients
Our Services
The Dental Center of Northwest Ohio offers a wide range of routine dental services to children and adults.
Our self-pay patients pay a reduced, fixed rate for services, and all routine children’s oral health services are only $25.
The staff at the Dental Center includes skilled dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and certified community healthworkers.
Each year, thousands of residents benefits from our services.
Advocacy, Education & Community Outreach
We know that people in need often fall through the cracks in the healthcare system. In addition to providing quality oral health services, the Dental Center also engages in advocacy, education and community outreach.
We work with state and local agencies to bridge the gaps and bread down barriers to ensure appropriate and timely access to dental care for all.
Care Management Program + TLC
The Dental Center’s TLC program was established in 2011 as an extension of our care management services to help patients with complex medical histories a/or dire medical diagnoses get the dental clearance needed to proceed with life-saving medical treatment.
Most TLC patients have avoided dental care out of fear and, after decades of neglect, the necessary dental treatment can be as extensive as it is expensive. Our team collaborates with social workers, benefit coordinators, and radiation oncology nurses to ensure these patients get the pre-treatment dental care they desperately need. Our Care Manager even accompany patients to their dental appointment as an extra measure of support.
During calendar year 2018, 259 TLC/care management patients required assistance with scheduling or receiving dental care due to complex medical histories, complicated treatment plans, serious illnesses, fear of the dentist, transportation issues and other barriers to care. Since its inception, more than 440 patients have been referred to the Dental Center from oncology, radiology, cardiology, obstetrics and primary care physicians.
Medicaid and insurance do not reimburse for care management services. This program is completely supported by the Dental Center at an annual cost of more than $15,000.
The Community Need for Dental Care
Access to dental care means getting the dental care you need when you need it. According to the 2015 Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey, dental care is the number one unmet healthcare need among Ohio’s children.
The Need for Private Support
Since 2000, the average cost of dental care services has increased 88%. On average, Medicaid reimburses 28% of the cost of dental services, but there has not been a substantive increase in those reimbursement dollars for many years.
We don’t received any federal funding, and stat and local grant resources have become more and more limited. The Dental Center Currently absorbs a shortage of $10 per appointment and contributes more than $13,000,000 in in-kind dental services to the community every year. The number of people eligible to receive services at the Dental Center increases every year, which means our patient volume and costs are increasing.
Private donation and community support are essential to maintaining access to and expanding our capacity to meet the growing need for quality, affordable oral healthcare services in our region.
Help Create Healthy Smiles
The Dental Center’s current revenue isn’t allowing us to keep up with the community demand for affordable, comprehensive oral health services.
Your gift to the Dental Center will help cover preventive care, such as routine cleanings and exams, restorative treatments like fillings and dental crowns, and oral surgery procedures for people who need them.
