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*Note the WDA makes every effort to keep all external links on our website current. However, some links may be broken or no longer exist. Please send an e-mail to info@wda.org if you find a broken link so we can fix it. Thank you.
Marshfield Clinic's pursuit of a "dental school"
Dispute over state grant for dental program
WSAU, JULY 25, 2011
A proposed dental school at Marshfield Clinic is in danger of losing a $10-million state grant. The state says the grant was intended to provide a rural outreach dental facility, not to build a dental school. Some of the money could be used to train dentists who already have their degrees to help in rural areas. But the state sent a letter to Marshfield Clinic saying that building a dental school would not be covered.
Dental Center's $10 million grant at risk
MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD, JULY 23, 2011
A $10 million state matching grant to the Marshfield Clinic's new Rural Dental Outreach Center might be at risk if the center becomes a dental school. In a letter to Clinic President Dr. Karl Ulrich and Vice President Dr. Douglas Reding, Department of Administration Administrator Jeff Plale wrote "that the state grant may not be used to fund the construction of a dental school." According to the letter, an agreement between the state, DOA and the clinic outlined that "a rural dental education facility would be used to train dental residents and post baccalaureate students, but not dental students."
Wis. groups clash over proposed dental school
DRBICUSPID.COM, DEC. 28, 2010
Dental groups in Wisconsin are clashing over the recently approved $10 million in state money intended to support the construction of a new dental school -- a proposition that the Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) calls "ill-advised" and a "lame-duck decision."
Debate simmers over state dental school
EAU CLAIRE LEADER-TELEGRAM, DEC. 27, 2010
Dear Editor: As Wisconsin’s only dental school for more than 100 years, Marquette University School of Dentistry has a responsibility and a long-standing commitment to educate the state’s future dentists and promote oral health statewide.
Marquette's William Lobb: Marquette can make best use of dental dollars
THE CAPITAL TIMES, DEC. 23, 2010
The latest conflict to emerge in the struggle for limited state funds has pitted dentist against dentist in rural Wisconsin. Bolstered with $10 million from an affiliate and a matching state grant, Marshfield Clinic announced a plan earlier this month to open the state's second dental school.
Dental group calls Marshfield Clinic's plan a Trojan horse
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, DEC. 18, 2010
Roiling in the background of Marshfield Clinic's announcement last week that an affiliate would commit $10 million toward opening a second dental school in Wisconsin were contentions that the clinic had used bait-and-switch tactics to secure a matching state grant.
Marshfield Clinic affiliate gets state funds for dental program
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, DEC. 16, 2010
An affiliate of Marshfield Clinic has secured a matching grant from the state by committing $10 million for a rural dental education program that would be the first step toward starting a second dental school in Wisconsin.
State commission approves $10M for Marshfield-based rural dentistry school
MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD, DEC. 15, 2010
The state Building Commission has approved a $10 million grant to Marshfield Clinic to set up a center to train rural dentists. Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill last year that required the state to release the money if the clinic could raise a matching $10 million. Building Commission member Sen. Pat Kreitlow, a Chippewa Falls Democrat, says the clinic has secured the money.
State lags neighbors in need children's dental care
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, MAY 28, 2011
Wisconsin made only marginal progress last year in addressing one of the most entrenched problems in its health care system: access to dental care for needy children. The state's performance lagged Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois in a report released last week by the Pew Center on the States. And it did no better than states such as Mississippi and West Virginia.
Plan would boost oral, overall health in state
THE JANESVILLE GAZETTE, APRIL 27, 2011
Thousands of children and adults in Wisconsin suffer from untreated dental problems, missing sleep, school and work due to pain and infection. They can’t eat properly or smile, and because oral health is critical to overall health, they risk other problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes complications and oral cancer.
'Healthy Choices' legislation offers cost-effective way to improve state's oral and overall health
WISBUSINESS.COM, APRIL 25, 2011
Thousands of children and adults in Wisconsin suffer from untreated dental problems, missing sleep, school and work due to pain and infection. They can’t eat properly or smile, and because oral health is critical to overall health, they risk other problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes complications and oral cancer.
Dentists say state needs to fill funding cavity
WISCONSIN RADIO NETWORK, JUNE 7, 2010
Dentists say lower income people in Wisconsin are not receiving the care they need due in part with inadequate funding from the state. Dr. Kent Vandehaar, President of the Wisconsin Dental Association, says in his private practice he gets shortchanged by the state when seeing BadgerCare patients. “Typically I get paid 33 percent of my normal fee and my overhead is 65 percent.”
More help, prevention needed
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, JUNE 1, 2010
Like an untreated cavity that continues to ache, Wisconsin's system of dental care for poor families isn't getting much better. While some success can be claimed in the growth of federally-funded centers that provide dental care for the poor and uninsured, that's really about it. Otherwise, our state continues on a woeful path of poor dental health.
Dr. Kent Vandehaar: Dental care for poor is not a state priority
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, MAY 28, 2010
As Sunday’s article “Too few dentists, too much pain” indicates, facts show Wisconsin has an adequate supply of dentists, and dental care is available whether you live in Darlington, Dousman or another part of Wisconsin. The problem, however, is state government must provide more support for people to get the dental care they need. By drastically underfunding its dental Medicaid and BadgerCare programs, Wisconsin is telling the state’s neediest residents that their oral health is not important.
EDITORIAL: Closing a gap
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, MAY 24, 2010
A dental school in northern Wisconsin charged with training dentists for work in rural areas may be a few years away even with a $10 million allocation from the state Legislature designed to catalyze the effort.
Too few dentists, too much pain in rural Wisconsin communities
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, MAY 23, 2010
A Wisconsin State Journal special report. Included in this report are the following related stories and multimedia:
- Provider quits Medicaid practice
- Minnesota training dental therapists
- Would another dental school help?
- Fluoride could help, advocates say
- Sealants can protect children's teeth
- Video: The value of a smile
- Video: She teaches healthy teeth
- Map of dental clinics targeting the underserved
Investigation: Dentists won't treat children on state health plan
WKOW-TV, MADISON, MAY 10, 2010
Most of us don't love going to the dentist. But most everyone would admit it's important, especially for kids. Right now, tens of thousands of Wisconsin children are being turned away from dentists for one simple reason: they use the state health plan, BadgerCare.
*Clarification to WKOW-TV 27 report: Dentists who are NOT Medicaid/BadgerCare certified CAN accept cash from patients enrolled in those state insurance programs. Approximately 50 – 60 percent of all dentists in Wisconsin are not MA/BC certified, so Medicaid/BadgerCare patients do have the option of seeking care from these dentists and working with the office to make payment arrangements that are outside of the very limited MA/BC fee schedule set by the state.
Study: Most Medicaid children lack access to care
MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD, FEB. 28, 2010
A Pew Center report released last week shows many Wisconsin children aren't going to the dentist. The report found that the state failed to provide three out of four children in the Medicaid system with dental care.
Dental report nothing to smile about
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MILWAUKEE, FEB. 23, 2010
The state of Wisconsin earned a “C” when it comes to taking care of children’s teeth and does a particularly poor job of caring for low-income youngsters, according to a study released Tuesday by the Pew Center on the States.
Steps must be taken to improve access to dental care
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, DEC. 14, 2009
The need for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic is obvious. Tooth pain is no respecter of income level. Thousands of poor Wisconsin children are without dental care essentially because dentists can't afford to see them. And that's because of notoriously low reimbursements under BadgerCare Plus. The clinic is often the only option for the city's poor. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic addresses these issues for the neediest on Milwaukee's south side.
Steps must be taken to improve access to dental care
MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD, JUNE 3, 2009
Access to dental care has been a sticking point for people without insurance or on medical assistance for years. Many dentists won't take medical assistance patients. They are reimbursed between 40 percent and 44 percent for the care they provide to MA patients. (Overhead at many dental offices is 60 to 65 percent. They lose money with every patient on MA.)
Dental funding needs a filling in Wisconsin
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2009
Wisconsin can't smile about its dental care for kids. Nearly one in five school children has untreated tooth decay, a 2008 state survey suggests. And that contributes to more than just pain and rotten teeth.
Inadequate funding: The Legislature should address the chronic underfunding of reimbursements for dentists who treat Medicaid patients
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL - MAY 14, 2009
Thousands of impoverished Wisconsin kids are without dental care because dentists can't afford to see them. When these kids do finally get in the chair, they often have serious problems. The Journal Sentinel's Guy Boulton found that fewer than one in four kids ages 3 to 19 who are insured through the Medicaid program BadgerCare Plus saw a dentist in 2007. That equates to more than 300,000 kids who didn't get a checkup. It's simply not fair, and it's happening because Wisconsin's reimbursement rate for dentists who accept BadgerCare Plus patients is miserly.
State watch: Few dentists in Wisconsin accept patients enrolled in BadgerCare Plus
KAISER DAILY HEALTH POLICY REPORT - MAY 12, 2009
Few dentists in Wisconsin are accepting patients insured by BadgerCare Plus, and children in particular are affected, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. According to the state Department of Health Services, fewer than one in four children ages three to 19 insured through BadgerCare Plus were seen by a dentist in 2007.
Dental care in short supply for low-income Wisconsin children
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL - MAY 9, 2009
PART 1 of 2: Lucia Alba knew something was wrong when her son said his teeth hurt while eating an apple. Carlos, her son, isn't a fussy child. But a few days earlier, he had mentioned that his teeth hurt. This time, Alba got a flashlight and looked in his mouth. She saw blood. Her son, 7 years old at the time, had abscesses, or infections, in two of his teeth.
Pay disagreements leave gap between needs and care
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL - MAY 10, 2009
PART 2 of 2: In one out of every two classrooms in Wisconsin, you’ll find a child who needs dental care for an infection, tooth fracture or other urgent condition. Nearly one in five of the child’s classmates have untreated tooth decay.
Letter to the Editor: Give Kids A Smile
THE JOURNAL TIMES, RACINE - MARCH 4, 2011
"The Racine Dental Association would like to sincerely thank everyone that made the annual 'Give Kids A Smile Day' possible...We have a serious dental access problem in Racine and throughout the state of Wisconsin. Dentists give generously of their time and expertise but it is not enough. Racine community members need to let their legislators know that dental care for children is important and that we all need to work together to solve this problem. Our hope is that someday soon, a program such as 'Give Kids A Smile Day' will not be necessary."
Give Kids A Smile
WJFW-TV CHANNEL 12, TOMAHAWK - FEB. 15, 2011
Clean healthy teeth for children is the goal this month for the American Dental Association. One Northwoods dentist is looking for smiles in a program to bring awareness and oral care to kids. It's called Give Kids a Smile and the mission is to provide free dental care to children whose parents may not be able to afford regular checkups.
Waukesha dentists look to Give Kids A Smile
THE FREEMAN - FEB. 8, 2011
With a growing poverty rate and lack of interest of going to the dentist by teenagers, more and more students in the Waukesha School District are finding themselves with teeth problems
Dental delight: Janesville office has jolly time with scraper, drill
JANESVILLE GAZETTE - FEB. 5, 2011
Fun is usually not associated with the high-pitch whine of dental drills and the uncomfortable scraping noise of plaque coming off teeth. But on Friday, the dentists, hygienists, assistants and support staff of Robinson & Prijic Family Dental were having a great time.
National 'Give Kids A Smile' day
WSAW-TV CHANNEL 7, WAUSAU - FEB. 4, 2011
Today thousands of kids across the country were able to see a dentist for free.
More than 100 kids get free dental care
WEAU-TV CHANNEL 13, EAU CLAIRE - FEB. 4, 2011
Friday at the CVTC Dental Clinic, area dentists provided free dental care to children at no cost. That added up to about $50,000 in services.
WITI - Fox 6 Milwaukee, Sept. 14, 2010
WITI - Fox 6 Milwaukee, Oct. 12, 2009
Marquette provides dental quality
WAUSAU DAILY HERALD - MAY 11, 2009
Dental access is a top priority for the Marquette University School of Dentistry, one which my colleagues and I address every day.
Clinic considers dental school
MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD - APRIL 11, 2009
The Marshfield Clinic wants to build the state's second dental school to meet a growing shortage of dentists in rural and under-served areas.
New dental school sought
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL - APRIL 5, 2009
Mindful of the severe shortage of dentists in large swaths of rural Wisconsin, the Marshfield Clinic and the state's largest community health center have begun putting together the pieces to start a second dental school in Wisconsin.
Mission of Mercy and other charitable dental care
Rhinelander dentists give back
THE NORTHWOODS RIVER NEWS, July 23, 2011
A number of local dentists joined the ranks of 215 Wisconsin dentists who took part in the third Mission of Mercy at Greenheck Field House in Weston on June 24 and 25. The Wisconsin Mission of Mercy provides dental care to those without insurance, are under-insured, or who have some difficulty getting to the dentist.
Letter: Improving the oral health of all Wisconsin residents
THE JOURNAL TIMES, July 22, 2011
This is in follow-up to The Journal Times' July 16 article, "Miles of smiles: Local dentists donate their skills to those in need." We were two of the 32 Racine-area dentists and residents among 1,050 volunteers at the third Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation and WDA Mission of Mercy held June 24-25 in Weston, near Wausau.
Miles of smiles: Local dentists donate their skills to those in need
THE JOURNAL TIMES, July 16, 2011
More than 50 area dentists are involved in Racine’s Health Care Network, and some are also involved in other free dental care programs. Dr. Richard Wagner, for example, traveled to Wausau in June to take part in a Mission of Mercy free dental care clinic offered by the Wisconsin Dental Association.
Mission of Mercy
WISCONSIN RAPIDS DAILY TRIBUNE, July 16, 2011
Wisconsin State Rep. Scott Krug, (R-Wisconsin Rapids), center, recently visited the 2011 Wisconsin Dental Association WDA Foundation Mission of Mercy at Greenheck Field House in Weston. During the two-day charitable event, more than 1,000 volunteers -- dentists, hygienists, assistants and others -- provided more than $1.12 million in care to children and adults during 2,141 patient visits.
Wisconsin Dental Association event points to real problem
MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD, July 6, 2011
The Wisconsin Dental Association's Mission of Mercy held in Weston last week was exactly that -- a mission to provide free dental care to the neediest people in the northern half of the state.
Dental staff volunteers services
MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD, July 1, 2011
The Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation wrapped their third Mission of Mercy June 24 and 25 by delivering smiles to more than 2,000 children and adults. This included 22 Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes who were screened at recent competitions and treated for urgent dental needs, as a national pilot project. Among the local professionals participating were Dr. Christy Rens and two of her staff members -- Stephannie Pajtash, dental hygienest, and Nancy Siewert, dental assistant -- from Dental Clinic of Marshfield.
Dental clinic serves up big smiles
WSAU-AM, June 30, 2011
Final numbers from the Wisconsin Dental Association’s Mission of Mercy show that volunteers provided free care to nearly 1,600 children and adults during a two-day clinic in Weston last week.
Wisconsin Dental Association event points to real problem
WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, June 29, 2011
The Wisconsin Dental Association's Mission of Mercy held in Weston last week was exactly that -- a mission to provide free dental care to the neediest people in the northern half of the state.
Free dental clinic at Greenheck Field House in Weston ends today
WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, June 25, 2011
Yvonne Franco had been in line for more than 24 hours when she finally got the dental care she desperately wanted. The 43-year-old nursing student from Two Rivers was one of a handful of people to set up camp late this week outside Greenheck Field House, where the Wisconsin Dental Association is holding its third annual Mission of Mercy free dental clinic.
Organizations donate to help Mission of Mercy
WAOW-TV CHANNEL 9, June 24, 2011
More than 70 organizations and individuals make donations to the Mission of Mercy, a group created by the Wisconsin Dental Association. Representatives from Walmart presented a $45,000 check to Mission of Mercy leaders.
WDA Mission of Mercy to provide free dental care in Weston
WAOW-TV CHANNEL 9, June 23, 2011
Dentist Jim Morgenroth knows the significance of a smile, but he understands that for many people, dental work falls to the bottom of the priority list.
Free dental clinic for people in need planned for Friday, Saturday
WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, June 22, 2011
Thousands of people who can't afford to have their teeth examined will have the opportunity to receive free dental care later this week. The Wisconsin Dental Association's Mission of Mercy, a free, two-day dental clinic held once a year, will set up shop Friday and Saturday at the Greenheck Field House in Weston.
Bottled waters not created equal
THE CHRONOTYPE - MAY 20, 2009
We all know that drinking enough liquid is important...most bottled water lacks the fluoride added to tap water, a particular concern for the dental health of children and teenagers.
New Poynette board decides to resume fluoridation
ASSOCIATED PRESS - MAY 13, 2009
Fluoride is returning to the Poynette water system. The Village Board voted this week to put fluoride back in the water supply, reversing a decision made last month before newly elected members took their seats on the board.
Fluoride has played key role in reducing dental caries, found in many community water supplies
ANTIGO DAILY JOURNAL - MARCH 2, 2009
Caries (cavities) used to be a fact of life. However, during the past few decades, tooth decay has been reduced dramatically. The key reason: fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that can naturally be found in many water sources.
*Note the WDA makes every effort to keep all external links on our website current. However, some links may be broken or no longer exist. Please send an e-mail to info@wda.org if you find a broken link so we can fix it. Thank you.
WDA community events and activities
WITI - Fox 6 Milwaukee, Aug. 13, 2010