CASSOPOLIS — The Cassopolis Family Clinic Network (CFCN) marked a major milestone on Thursday as community members, partners, and local leaders gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of the Cassopolis Family Clinic Dental. The event signaled a renewed commitment to expanding access to dental care for residents across the region.
The clinic’s Board of Directors hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally reopen the facility. Representatives from the Cassopolis/Vandalia Chamber of Commerce attended the event, along with local dignitaries and members of the dental team. Organizers described the reopening as a turning point for dental services in the communities served by the clinic network.
“This is mission accomplished,” one clinic representative said during the ceremony. “The building had been unused for years. Now it is a beautiful facility again, and we have people who truly need to be served.”
The Cassopolis Family Clinic Dental offers a wide range of preventive and restorative services. Preventive care includes routine dental exams, professional cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants. The clinic also provides more advanced procedures such as fillings, extractions, root canals, bridges, crowns, dentures, space maintainers, and other dental treatments. The goal is to address both immediate dental needs and long-term oral health.
One of the clinic’s core missions is to serve patients who have limited access to care. Dental services are available to individuals without dental insurance, as well as those covered by Michigan Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Delta Dental. The clinic also uses a sliding fee scale to ensure affordability.
“We know that many people put off dental care because they don’t have many options,” said CFCN Executive Director Joseph Gavan. “That includes people on Medicaid or Medicare, and people who simply cannot afford to pay. Everyone is welcome here. If someone can’t pay, that’s okay. We are here to take care of them. That is how we are designed, and that is why we exist.”
Gavan emphasized that the clinic is focused on making residents aware that services are once again available. He said spreading the word is a priority, especially for families who may have gone without dental care during the clinic’s closure.
The dental clinic originally opened in 2014 but was forced to close in June 2022. Staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to continue operations at that time. Since then, CFCN leadership has worked to rebuild the dental team and prepare the clinic for reopening.
“During COVID, we just couldn’t get doctors,” said Dental Office Manager Melanie. “With support from the board, we were finally able to bring in new dentists and reopen.”
The clinic now has two full-time dentists, and appointment slots are filling quickly. Leaders say demand is strong, which reflects the ongoing need for accessible dental care in the area.
Gavan also highlighted the clinic’s integrated care model. Patients can access multiple services in one visit. A child may receive dental care, complete a medical wellness check, and visit the pharmacy in the same day. Behavioral health services are also located in the same building.
“This model works,” Gavan said. “You see familiar faces in one place. If transportation is a challenge, you can get a lot done in one visit. We believe our patients value that.”
Dental services are available from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.