Dental Archives - Swope Health

Making Bright Smiles: Our Mobile Dental Unit’s Journey

Tanner Cobb — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:37:59 +0000

Swope Health’s mission has always been to deliver accessible, quality, comprehensive patient care to the community – and the health center has taken that a step further in recent years. With the acquisition of two Mobile Dental Units, Swope Health now goes directly to the underserved members of the community, primarily providing care to those in schools and homeless shelters.

Before the mobile program was created, Swope Health was making dental care visible in the community in other ways. Since becoming the Swope Health Director of Dental Outreach in 2020, Shawn Oprisiu has played a pivotal role in enhancing the dental care experience.

“When I got here, we had a pack-and-play process,” Oprisiu said. “We would go into schools and set up a clinic inside to serve the children. We had enough infrastructure to house a mobile unit, which was our main goal and why I was recruited here.”

After getting approval from senior leadership and the board of directors, Swope Health received a large grant from Delta Dental to help purchase the first MDU – which arrived in the fall of 2020. Swope Health needed to find and purchase a unit, install dental equipment inside, and paint it.

“I talked with people who were running mobile programs all over the country about what was good, what was bad, what they liked, and what they disliked,” she said. “We ultimately decided to partner with Farber Specialty Vehicles to provide the mobile unit to us. They built a beautiful unit, and then we delivered the rest of it.”

Resurrection Church was instrumental in Swope Health’s second MDU. Resurrection has an annual tradition of donating their entire Candlelight Christmas Eve Offering to fund Kansas City-based projects and assisted Swope Health in 2023. It took 15 months to complete the second MDU – which made its debut earlier this year.

“One day when we were out in the community, a couple of people from Resurrection saw the unit, toured it, and asked more about what we do,” she said. “The church was able to fund the second unit with their generous Christmas Eve offering.”

The MDU team has given a name to both Winnebago units, naming the original one Winnie and the newer one Willie. Now that there are two units, they have a new process to ensure patients get the most out of their experiences with Swope Health.

“Winnie has two dental hygienists, and a CSR, and a driver,” Swope Health Mobile Dental Unit Clinic Manager Martha Gutierrez said. “After we give cleanings and document the patients, Willie follows up with treatment a week or two later. Dr. Shea Durington goes out on the treatment days with her Dental assistant.”

Between September and May, the MDU serves children at schools in the Kansas City area. The MDU provides care to nearly 3,000 children annually and typically serves 20-30 children at each school.

“I act as an advocate for the children,” Gutierrez said. “They are registered before we get there, so I’m able to escort them onto the bus where they wait. I’m always going back and forth from the bus to get the kids on there to get seen.”

Swope Health will serve any school that reaches out about the services. There isn’t a limit to how far Swope Health’s MDU will travel. So far, it has traveled as far north as Excelsior Springs, Mo., and as far south as Olathe, Kan.

“I’m in contact with the schools and let them know what days are available for us to come on site,” Oprisiu said. “Once we book it, they start the process with the children by sending out registration to the entire school.”

There are no requirements for the children whom Swope Health’s MDU serves. Regardless of insurance status, anybody can be seen.

“If you’re uninsured, we have funding sources that offer financial assistance for dental services, such as the Kansas City Health Levy. We also have a program with MARC (Mid America Regional Council) that pays for uninsured kids to be seen,” she said.

While Swope Health’s MDU focuses primary on students during the school year, it also travels to homeless shelters during the summer. Willie and Winnie also travel to various community events throughout the year.

“We were out every weekend in August for back-to-school events and attended some major events for Juneteenth and Pride Month. It’s important for us to be out in the community and serve those who don’t have any other way to be seen,” Oprisiu said.

Interested in scheduling the Swope Health Mobile Medical Unit for a community event? To make the request, click here.

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Major Gift from Resurrection Yields New Mobile Clinic for Swope Health, Dedication Service Planned

Bridget Locke — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:00:54 +0000

KANSAS CITY, MO (April 2, 2025) – Swope Health, the Kansas City region’s largest federally qualified health center, is pleased to announce the completion of its newest unit in a growing fleet of mobile clinics. A children’s mobile dental unit, purchased with funds donated from Resurrection, will be unveiled and dedicated in a special ceremony on Thursday, April 3, noon, at Swope Health Central (3801 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64130). The event is open to the public.

Funds for the custom-built mobile clinic, estimated at $500,000, were raised during Resurrection’s 2023 Candlelight Christmas Eve Offering. The unit’s dental operatory includes two treatment chairs and took 15 months to complete. Swope Health will use the clinic to further expand access to children’s dental care at community and school-based sites. Through mobile dental services, the Swope Health mobile dental unit team serves more than 3,000 children annually in collaboration with 85 Kansas and Missouri organizations.

“It is gratifying for Swope Health to align with those who use their impact and influence for social good,” said Jeron Ravin, JD, President and CEO of Swope Health. “Resurrection has been a pillar of good works for many years, and it is our privilege to be a benefactor of their giving and commitment to community. The generosity of their congregation allows us to advance and expand the work that remains at the heart of our mission: providing quality, accessible, comprehensive care for all.”

Since 2009, Resurrection has gifted nearly $23 million through their annual tradition of donating the entire Candlelight Christmas Eve Offering to fund Kansas City-based projects and global initiatives and intentionally selects organizations and programs that are purposed to transform the lives of children and families.

“Resurrection is excited to partner with Swope Health to help meet the need for children’s dental care in our community.” said Reverend Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor of Resurrection. “I am humbled by and grateful for the commitment and generosity of our congregation. This is just one of the ways we are living our vision to help close the gaps and provide a future with hope for all children in our community.”

The special dedication service at Swope Health on Thursday, April 3, begins at noon and will include remarks by Swope Health and Resurrection leadership. In addition, the Mobile Dental Clinic will be on display at Resurrection Leawood (5001 W 137^th Street, Leawood, KS) after worship services on Sunday, April 6. Service times are 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m. The community and media are invited to attend Thursday’s and Sunday’s services.

For more information, please contact Bridget Locke, director of strategic communications, at blocke@swopehealth.org or 816-830-2494, or Cathy Bien, lead director, public relations and special projects, at Cathy.Bien@cor.org or 816-898-9986.

Swope Health has provided comprehensive primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services in the Greater Kansas City area for 55 years. Recognized as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Swope Health’s commitment to an integrated model of healthcare aligns with its mission of improving community health and wellness by delivering accessible, quality, comprehensive patient care. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and The Joint Commission, Swope Health is also recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center. Swope Health served 53,865 patients in 2024 and is in 23 locations throughout the area, including Kansas City, Belton, Independence, north of the river, Hickman Mills, and Wyandotte and Leavenworth Counties in Kansas. Learn more at swopehealth.org.

Resurrection, a United Methodist Church with 24,000 members and nine locations in the Kansas City area, is committed to loving our neighbors, and demonstrating that love and support through ministries that include addressing justice and kindness gaps, providing food, health, and housing resources, and encouraging students, teachers and healthcare workers.

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Swope Health opens state-of-the-art facility in Hickman Mills, fills community need for dental services

Nancy Shawver — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 20:25:04 +0000

On Jan. 8, Swope Health Hickman Mills—a full-spectrum family medical clinic offering pediatric care, prenatal care, preventive medicine, acute care and chronic disease management for all ages—will begin providing services from a newly built, state-of-the-art facility at 6406 E. 87^th St., Kansas City, Mo.

A ribbon cutting event for the new location is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 4-6 p.m. Hickman Mills patients and the public are invited to attend.

The clinic’s move from 8800 Blue Ridge Blvd. is a significant step forward in improving healthcare access to the community of South Kansas City. In support, new clinic staff has been added to the clinic to expand capacity.

Jacquelyn Bailey, M.D., a physician who specializes in family medicine and provides care across the lifespan, including pediatric and prenatal care, and Mohammed Nuru, D.D.S., a dentist who provides care for adults and children, have joined the Hickman Mills staff and are accepting new patients.

Dental care is a new service offered in the Hickman Mills clinic and fills a significant gap in the area for adult patients seeking dental providers who accept Medicaid insurance. Hickman Mills remains a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area, with the need for more dental, mental health, and primary care providers.

Swope Health Hickman Mills will now be located across the street from Swope Health KidsCARE Tenney Pediatrics, 6501 E. 87^th St., Kansas City, Mo., a clinic acquired by Swope Health in 2022, creating a healthcare hub for the community.

“The new facility allows us to serve more residents in the Hickman Mills community, with greater access to more services,” said Jeron Ravin, J.D., President and CEO for Swope Health. “Swope Health has provided comprehensive, highest-quality healthcare throughout the region for 54 years, and this move is a testament to our enduring commitment to deliver the best to the residents of our city—particularly, the underserved. They deserve our best.”

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Swope Health wins in national HRSA pediatric competition

Nancy Shawver — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 21:30:26 +0000

According to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, within months of the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed declining rates of vaccinations and well-child visits.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that declines in vaccination coverage might leave young children and communities vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

To respond, the Maternal & Child Health bureau of HRSA launched a national competition — the Promoting Pediatric Primary Prevention (P4) Challenge.

Applicants were invited to demonstrate innovative approaches to increase well-child visits and immunizations. More than 240 entrants applied.

Swope Health and the Mid-America Regional Coalition (MARC) in collaboration were named one of the initial 50 winners in phase 1, the only applicant winning from the Midwest. The phase 1 prize was $10,000.

Then, in phase 2, Swope Health and MARC’s entry landed in the top 20, earning a $25,000 prize.

Plus, Swope Health and MARC’s Mid-America Head Start were named as one of three winners invited to deliver a national presentation on the winning program. Sandra Reece-Tinsley, Health Manager for MARC, delivered the presentation in the Winners Showcase on Jan. 31.

“We are so proud of this win,” said Kenneth Thomas, M.D., Executive Vice President of Children’s Services for Swope Health. “We demonstrated that the Swope Health’s KidsCARE solution with Head Start delivered an increase in well-child healthcare visits and immunizations over the prior year. These check-ups and immunizations help kids grow and stay healthy.”

The collaboration was among the most holistic programs presented in the challenge, offering well-child visits and immunizations and integrated dental, optometry and behavioral health access and services as well. Many of the other challenge applicant programs had a limited area of focus.

KidsCARE is Swope Health’s program to deliver pediatric primary care, dental and behavioral health care together in the community. KidsCARE uses telehealth and mobile medical clinics for Head Start community- and school-based locations. Swope Health recently opened a standalone KidsCARE clinic in the Emmanuel Family and Child Development Center.

The MARC-Swope Health entry showed delivery of 227 well-child examinations, 16 eye clinic examinations and 400 dental examinations. The KidsCARE pilot program covered rural and urban settings and produced improved results in both categories – higher than all other MARC Head Start sites.

Nationally, the Challenge projects generated more than 52,000 pediatric well-child visits and nearly 23,000 immunizations. Read more details from the Department of Health and Human Services: HHS Announces Winners of National Challenge to Increase Pediatric Vaccinations and Well-Child Visits.

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February: Children’s Dental Health Month

Nancy Shawver — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 20:26:38 +0000

At Swope Health, we are celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, with the American Dental Association.

“We want to raise awareness of the importance of taking care of your overall health and oral health, starting early,” said Dr. Megan Krohn, Executive Vice President of Dental Services at Swope Health. “We know teaching preventive care and healthy habits early sets the foundation for good lifelong oral health.”

When you visit Swope Health Central in February, on select days you’ll find a table in the main lobby offering coloring pages and crayons for kids, toothbrushes, and dental associates who will do a brief screening and fluoride application. We encourage your support by sharing photos of your kids’ coloring pages with us – and we’ll hang them up on our walls and promote them on social media to spread the word.

You can print out your own coloring page (and other activity pages) below. The coloring page will also be available in all Swope Health Dental, Pediatric and KidsCARE locations across the metro area.

This year’s campaign emphasizes dental sealants – a thin covering that is painted on the biting surface of your back teeth as a protection against decay. The process is quick and painless.

The sealants work by providing a barrier that keeps food and germs from causing tooth decay. Germs in the mouth react with sugars in foods and drinks to create acids that can eat away at the outer layers of your tooth, creating cavities. Sealants are proven effective in preventing 80 percent of cavities on the biting surface of back teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition to sealants, brushing and flossing and regular dental visits also help maintain excellent oral health.

“This is a great time to schedule a visit for your kids,” added Dr. Krohn. “Regular dental visits are important for developing habits to support a a lifetime of good oral health.”

Swope Health is scheduling pediatric dental appointments at Central, Wyandotte, Northland, and Independence clinics. To schedule a dental appointment, call 816-923-5800. We look forward to seeing you!

Download Coloring Page

Download Crossword Page

Download Drawing Page

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