Faculty, staff, grad students, and residents are invited to the MPSoD awards ceremony on Nov. 18.
In 1978, the Government of Alberta and the U of A devised a strategy aimed at delivering essential services and education to underserved populations, thus safeguarding and improving the dental health of Albertans. This partnership was the beginning of the satellite clinics, also known as the dental outreach program. This work continues today through the dedication of students, staff and partnership organizations. Alberta Health Services has provided the facilities and administration on behalf of the Government of Alberta since 2015. At the same time, the U of A is the service provider and offers crucial administrative support, including patient records, insurance, and professional supervision.
The clinics addresses various barriers to oral health, including:
Lack of access to care due to low provider-to-population ratios
Limited income and/or lack of dental insurance benefits
Limited access to transportation
The inability to take time off from work to travel to attend to personal family needs for care
Cultural barriers and stigma
Through this initiative, individuals in remote and underserved regions can receive high-quality dental care without extensive travel. The family-oriented clinics foster a positive introduction to oral health care for children, emphasizing preventive measures through education.
Our reduced fee schedule further encourages uninsured patients to prioritize regular examinations over delaying treatment until emergencies arise, as managing dental emergencies within clinics diminishes the burden on hospital emergency facilities.
At the clinics, dentistry and dental hygiene students work in a rural setting and manage the oral health care needs of a diverse patient population. The needs in these communities tend to be more complex and extensive due to limited access to care.
The clinics are modelled on a private practice setting, and an experienced dental support team and the low student-to-instructor ratio allow students to be efficient with their clinic time, resulting in more patient care. This environment supports student development and improves patient management skills.
Access to Oral Health Care in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities
Presenting Our Presence | Oct. 18, 2024
Each clinic has four dental operatories, in-office sterilization and is fully equipped to provide emergency and general dental services. Rotations are filled by dentistry and dental hygiene students in the final year of their program. Additionally, an experienced dental preceptor is present to mentor and supervise the students as they provide care to their patients. These clinics provide the students with the opportunity to collaborate with local dental professionals and other health care providers to manage patients with complex needs.
Our McLennan clinic operates on a two-week rotation schedule. Meanwhile, our clinics in High Level and La Crete alternate within the rotation. The first week of the rotation is conducted in La Crete, followed by the second week in High Level.
The final phase of the Canadian Dental Care Plan is expanding to include individuals aged 18 to 64 in a phased roll out starting May 2025. Our team is prepared to assist uninsured patients with their applications and explain the coverage benefits of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. We believe that lowering financial barriers to dental care through the CDCP will significantly benefit the communities of McLennan, High Level, and La Crete by increasing access to essential treatment and ultimately reducing dental emergencies.
237 new patients
1,868 patient visits
5,273 procedures
34% non-insured patients
133 new patients
595 patient visits
1,564 procedures
20% non-insured patients
113 new patients
815 patient visits
1,980 procedures
58% non-insured patients
In 2023-2024, the number of procedures rose to 8,079 from 7,147 in the previous year. Of this year's procedures, 355 were emergency care, helping to reduce the strain on hospital emergency room resources in McLennan, High Level, La Crete and surrounding areas. Additionally, the U of A collaborated with Health Canada and Sun Life to become a registered provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) to improve access to care.
229 new patients
1,757 patient visits
5,071 procedures
38% non-insured patients
122 new patients
590 patient visits
1,611 procedures
23% non-insured patients
94 new patients
565 patient visits
1,397 procedures
59% non-insured patients