GRANT00338

Granite County in Montana is a rural county of 1,727 square miles with a population of only 1.8 people per square mile. Granite County Medical Foundation operates as the sole service provider in the county and the next nearest facility is 30-70 miles away. These distances are especially difficult for the 25% of the population that is elderly and the more than 40% who are within 200% of the federal poverty line. The goal is to provide all residents, including underserved and at risk populations, with a sustainable dental home. Prior to 2010 when GCDF started their dental services, Granite County did not have a dentist for over a decade. A mobile dental program was established in 2010 to provide services in the county, promote oral health awareness, create visibility and remove transportation barriers for patients. However, with the extreme cold in Montana for at least 6 months a year, they had difficulty traveling and keeping patients in the van warm. Thus, in the winter of 2010, they piloted a temporary fixed dental clinic using equipment from their mobile unit. GCMC received a grant in 2012 to expand their current clinic to a 2 chair clinic, built to professional standards. Despite the improvements, the clinic needs to purchase and replace equipment.