Affordable dental center to open

Lake Superior Community Health Center is bringing its focus on affordable dentistry to a new location in Carlton. The facility, located at 210 Third Street in downtown Carlton, has been a dental practice for years, but under the direction of LSCHC, access will be expanded for those with Medicaid and those without insurance in surrounding communities.

“In the Carlton and Cloquet area, nearly 45 percent of residents have not accessed dental care in the last year,” said CEO Dayle Patterson. “We hope this is the first of many expansions for this critical service in our area. Dentistry is an important part of the whole-patient care we provide.”

The new practice highlights continued efforts on the part of the organization to improve access to the high-quality, affordable dentistry they provide for the region.

“Studies show that there is a significant shortage of options for accessible oral health care in our region and the reality is dentistry is incredibly important for overall health,” said Dr. Wendy Peterson, dental director for LSCHC. “Dentists can often be the first provider to identify a chronic disease or illness, and at LSCHC the integrated care we provide allows our medical, dental and behavioral health provider teams to work together on site to provide some of the highest quality care in the region.”

Initially, the practice will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and will expand to Monday-Friday by the end of the year. Call 218-336-3524 for more information or visit lschc.org.