Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers is gearing up to take a fully equipped mobile dental clinic on the road, thanks to a $50,000 Launch Grant from Mayo Clinic Health System. The mobile clinic, called Scenic Smiles, will provide thousands of dental visits annually in underserved communities across western Wisconsin. Scenic Smiles mobile dental clinic will travel to various locations within Scenic Bluffs’ five-county service region, offering a comprehensive range of dental services such as routine cleanings and exams, fillings, extractions, preventive care, and oral health education.
Western Wisconsin faces a significant shortage of dental providers, despite having high-quality healthcare systems across the region. This shortage has led to notable gaps in oral health services, particularly for Medicaid patients and uninsured individuals. Scenic Bluffs, one of the few dental clinics accepting Medicaid in the area, receives nearly 1,000 appointment requests each month from new patients seeking care—a demand that continues to grow despite provider expansion.
For many residents, accessing dental care is a challenge due to geographic distance, transportation difficulties, financial barriers and limited insurance coverage enhance the issue. In some cases, residents must travel up to 1.5 hours to reach the nearest Medicaid-accepting dentist. By bringing care directly to neighborhoods, Scenic Smiles will help eliminate these barriers, reducing time away from work or school while ensuring timely and consistent access to oral healthcare. Accessible dental care not only improves overall health outcomes but also positively impacts school attendance, workforce productivity, and quality of life. Poor oral health is closely linked to chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, making preventive and routine dental care essential for long-term well-being. Beyond immediate care, the mobile unit will help strengthen connections between dentists and underserved communities, fostering long-term relationships and encouraging provider recruitment in areas with the greatest need.
“Scenic Smiles will address one of the most pressing health challenges identified in Community Health Needs Assessments: the lack of accessible dental care,” said Kim Hawthorne, CEO of Scenic Bluffs. “We are so grateful for Mayo Clinic’s support of this mobile unit that will allow us to meet patients where they are, overcoming obstacles like distance, transportation, and cost.”
Mayo Clinic Health System’s support of Scenic Smiles reflects its commitment to community health, equity, and inclusion. This partnership underscores both organizations’ dedication to addressing local needs and fostering community vibrancy. “Investing in Scenic Bluffs’ oral health operations not only improves access for all community members but enhances overall healthcare efficiency,” said Hawthorne.
As Scenic Smiles gears up to hit the road, Scenic Bluffs continues to fundraise to finish retrofitting the unit. For information on how to support this initiative or to learn more, visit www.scenicbluffs.org/ScenicSmiles.