Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation invests $110,000 in Northern Dental Access clinic expansion

BEMIDJI, Minn – Northern Dental Access Center, a nonprofit community access dental clinic, will update and expand its Bemidji clinic with a $110,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. Infrastructure updates at the clinic will improve the quality and efficiency of care provided for underserved populations.

Since 2006, Delta Dental of Minnesota and its foundation have supported the growth of the Northern Dental Access Center because it provides valuable safety net care to people who might otherwise not have access to oral health services. Today the Northern Dental Access Center serves more than 10,000 patients per year with 30,000 important dental care visits.

“Oral health is a fundamental component of a person’s overall health, so we believe it is important to invest in safety net programs that reach underserved populations,” said Joe Lally, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation executive director. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Northern Dental Access Center and support the expansion of this remarkable clinic in the Bemidji area.”

The grant will support reconfiguring the patient intake and sterilization areas, upgrading clinic software, expanding the inventory of dental tools, and replacing three dental chairs and a radiography sensor.

“Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation has generously supported our clinic for many years, and for that we are grateful,” said Jeanne Edevold Larson, Northern Dental Access Center executive director. “This additional funding will improve the quality of care and patient experience for the community we serve.”

Northern Dental’s Bemidji clinic initially opened in 2008. Clinic updates are expected to be completed in May 2020.

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation is founded on the belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile. In 2009, Delta Dental of Minnesota’s parent organization sold a company and used 100% of the proceeds to establish and fund the Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of Minnesotans through oral health. To date, the foundation has invested more than $35 million to expand prevention and care, reaching more than 1 million people to promote healthy smiles statewide.