ANN ARBOR—Filling a need by providing oral health care to the underserved in Michigan, graduate students in the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s endodontic program begin providing oral health care at Mott Children’s Health Center later this month. The announcement was made today by officials at both facilities.

It’s the first time graduate students in the endodontics program will provide oral health care outside School of Dentistry clinics in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Neville McDonald, chair of the School’s endodontics program, said residents will primarily focus on treating adolescents. “This is a great opportunity for our students as well as for residents in Flint and surrounding communities who need the specialized help that only an endodontist can provide,” he said. “Our graduate students who will participate will treat patients they typically wouldn’t see here in Ann Arbor. In the process, they will obtain a broader set of clinical experiences that will help them after they graduate next summer.”

The head of the pediatric dentistry department at Mott Children’s Health Center, Dr. Daniel Briskie, applauded the move. “This continues a relationship we’ve had with the U-M School of Dentistry for more than 10 years,” he said. “The endodontics initiative will allow us to better serve residents in Flint and Genesee County.”

Briskie said that Mott Children’s Health Center handled about 150 endodontic cases last year. About one-third of those were trauma cases requiring extensive work.

“This also fills a pressing need,” Briskie said noting that no endodontists in Genesee County accept Medicaid. “The collaboration between Mott Children’s Health Center and the School of Dentistry will help fill that need, especially among those least likely to be able to afford this type of oral health care,” he said.

Four endodontic students will participate in the program on a rotating basis, that is, only one resident will be providing care during any given week.

Dr. Thomas Veryser, interim assistant dean for Community and Outreach Programs, said this effort complements other outreach initiatives that expanded considerably in providing oral health care services at many locations throughout Michigan,” he said. “In addition, residents in our Advanced Education in General Dentistry and General Practice Residency programs are also providing oral health care.”

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at http://www.dent.umich.edu.