Smiles United was launched in 2009 to increase access to dental care in our region. Through the program, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has worked to introduce and sustain Children's Dental Services (CDS)' mobile dental program in schools across our service areas. In 2020, CDS expanded to serve patients of all ages at community sites across the region, including UWNEMN's building in Chisholm. UWNEMN and CDS are currently partnering to open an Iron Range CDS clinic to serve as the dental hub for the mobile program. The partners receive guidance through the Northeast Minnesota Dental Task Force, which UWNEMN established in 2024 through the Smiles United program.
What is the need?
- Tooth decay is the most common infectious disease among children. It is also largely preventable!
- Nationally, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to tooth decay. By providing the necessary dental care in school, children can easily access necessary preventative care in order to stay healthy!
- Children receiving dental sealants in school-based programs have 60% less decay for up to five years. Healthy children feel better in school, which helps our efforts to educate.
- 28% of Minnesotans do not have dental insurance. 53% of Minnesotans over the age of 65 do not have dental insurance.
Donations to United Way of Northeastern Minnesota support Children's Dental Services preventive and restorative dental care to uninsured and underinsured individuals of all ages in our region. The program improves the oral health and well-being for patients from birth to 100+ years of age by providing cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants by way of a mobile dental unit. Children's Dental Services brings its mobile dental unit directly to all area school districts across the Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County; however the program also serves individuals at county buildings and community sites like UWNEMN's building in Chisholm & KOOTASCA in Grand Rapids.
For questions about these services or to make an appointment, call 1-612-746-1530 or click here.
If you are a Smiles United location and have questions for UWNEMN, contact Sarah at 218-254-3329 or sarah@unitedwaynemn.org.
United Way of Northeastern Minnesota expanded its Smiles United program in 2024 to address the widespread need for dental care across the region by establishing the Northeast Minnesota Dental Task Force.
The task force meets quarterly to:
- Keep regional stakeholders connected and engaged on our communities’ dental needs.
- Identify actionable solutions and collaborate when appropriate.
- Ultimately, increase dental providers and programs in Northeastern Minnesota.
The task force includes representatives from the following local and regional entities:
- Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, a division of ARDC
- Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA)
- BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota
- CHI LakeWood Public Health
- Children’s Dental Services
- East Range DAC
- Ely Community Health Center
- Essentia Health
- Fairview Range
- Koochiching County Public Health & Human Services
- Lake of the Woods County
- Medica
- Minnesota Dental Foundation
- Minnesota Department of Health Follow Along Program
- Rainy Lake Medical Center
- Scenic Rivers Health Services
- St. Francis Health Services
- St. Louis County
- United Way of Northeastern Minnesota
Top needs discussed to-date by the task force include workforce, crisis funding for anesthesia costs not covered by insurance, mobile and accessible care for seniors, and a “dental home” for uninsured and underinsured individuals.
For more information, contact Katy Lofquist at katy@unitedwaynemn.org, 218-215-2423, or NE MN Dental Task Force c/o United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, 608 East Drive, Chisholm MN 55719.
To operate Smiles United, we rely on community support. To make a contribution to Smiles United, designate through payroll deduction at your workplace, donate online today, or send donations to UWNEMN at 608 East Drive, Chisholm, MN 55719.
Mobile dental care is provided locally by Children's Dental Services. For questions about their services or to make an appointment, call 1-612-746-1530 or click here.
If you are a Smiles United location and have questions for UWNEMN, contact Sarah at 218-254-3329 or sarah@unitedwaynemn.org.
For more information about the Northeast Minnesota Dental Task Force, contact Katy at katy@unitedwaynemn.org, 218-215-2423, or NE MN Dental Task Force c/o United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, 608 East Drive, Chisholm MN 55719.