Children's Dental Health Services

You are helping to make a difference with the oral health needs of underserved children.

• More than 51 million school hours are missed yearly due to dental pain. 
• Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of children (5 times more common than asthma)
• Over 16 million U.S. children have untreated tooth decay

These devastating national statistics can be echoed right here in our own communities.  

• Over 60% of Minnesota children ages 1 to 20 years enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) did NOT receive any preventive dental services (2017)

Children's Dental Health Services (CDHS) is dedicated to removing barriers to dental care for underserved children from low-income households in southeastern Minnesota. These children have limited options for affordable and convenient dental care, making it challenging for families to meet their oral health needs. To address this issue, we offer a mobile clinic that provides preventative care, and our office locations provide restorative care. Through this approach, we aim to offer underserved children a dental home that meets their family's needs.

Oral health is essential to overall health, and receiving preventative dental care services beginning as a child is vital. Oral health problems can interfere with eating, speaking, self-esteem, and daily activities. Reinforcing the importance of brushing, flossing, healthy diet choices, and regular visits with a dental professional will ensure that children have a healthy mouth and overall health.

Our "mobile clinic" provides preventative dental care directly to underserved children in their schools, public health sites, and through Head Start programs. By providing these services directly to the children, families do not have to take time off work, secure transportation to appointments, arrange childcare for other children, and face difficulties finding a dental office. In addition to preventative dental care, including teeth cleanings, fluoride applications, and dental sealants, our program focuses on educating children and caregivers on the importance of good oral health and good nutritional habits.

In 2022, more than half of the children we treated in our preventative clinics needed additional treatment. Our skilled dental professionals placed over 1,300 fillings, many of which were on multiple tooth surfaces. We are proud to exclusively offer dental care to vulnerable children who are uninsured or on a medical assistance plan. Due to the many barriers our patients face to accessing dental care, they are three times more likely to have tooth decay than children in higher-income households. These statistics are alarming and demonstrate the ongoing need for our services.

Thanks to YOUR commitment to the community and its children, we can continue to provide essential dental care services to many children in need. 

Imagine a community where no child is in tooth pain. 

Help us ensure every child has a happy, healthy smile for life!

   Kristine Billman, Founder of Children's Dental Health Services