BISMARCK, N.D. (KXNET) – The Bismarck State College (BSC) Foundation has secured a $75,000 grant to strengthen dental care and workforce training through its new Mystic Smiles pediatric dental clinic.
The funding comes from the North Dakota Community Foundation’s Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Grant Fund. It will be used to purchase 3-D imaging equipment and upgraded sterilization technology. The investment is designed to expand access to dental services for underserved children while giving students hands-on training in a growing healthcare field.
“We are grateful for this support,” said Kari Knudson, executive director of the BSC Foundation. “The grant addresses two urgent needs: improving access to pediatric dental care for families and preparing our graduates to meet the state’s workforce demand.”
Mystic Smiles, which opened in May, is the first pediatric clinic of its kind in North Dakota. Located on West Century Avenue in Bismarck, it serves children 13 and under, accepts Medicaid, and offers a sliding fee scale. Patients are referred through community partners including Bridging the Dental Gap, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health.
“Too many children in our state face barriers to affordable dental care,” said Dr. Tegwyn Brickhouse, the clinic’s pediatric dentist. “By pairing treatment with student training, Mystic Smiles improves health outcomes today while building tomorrow’s workforce.”
The need is significant. A survey by the North Dakota Dental Association found that 98% of dentists believe the state faces a shortage of professionals. More than 80% of practices tried to hire staff in the past year, but many struggled to find qualified candidates.
The idea for Mystic Smiles began after Dr. Katie Stewart of SDY Dental raised concerns about the shortage. That conversation helped inspire BSC’s efforts to combine care with education.
“This grant supports what we do best as a polytechnic institution,” said BSC Interim President Dan Leingang. “We partner with industry to train students while addressing community needs.”
Interest in BSC’s future dental hygiene program is already strong, with more than 100 potential applicants. The program is now seeking initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).