EUREKA, Calif. — The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation has awarded an $80,000 grant to the Open Door Community Health Center, supporting a major expansion at its Burre Dental Center in Eureka. The upgrade is expected to increase the clinic’s capacity, allowing thousands more patients to receive care each year.
Dr. Travis Burnham, Dental Director at Open Door, highlighted the impact: “There will be thousands more appointments available than what we could accommodate in 2024.”
The grant has been instrumental in bringing the expansion to life. Delta Dental recognized Open Door’s dedication to delivering affordable, high-quality dental care to rural communities. Dr. Burnham added, “This funding enables us to fulfill our mission of bringing more dental services to the community.”
The remodel includes six new dental operatories, bringing the total to 22. It also provides an opportunity to hire additional providers, a challenge in rural areas. “Recruiting permanent dental and medical providers is always difficult in remote communities,” Dr. Burnham said. “We are focusing strongly on this, and the expansion helps support those efforts.”
Open Door projects the upgraded facility will allow for roughly 8,000 additional dental visits annually, significantly improving access to care for families across Humboldt County.