When Ypsilanti resident Charolette Buck’s retired father needed new dentures, she worried about the cost. Though he had insurance through his former employer, his dental coverage had gaps. As she coordinated his care, Buck asked her dentist about the out-of-pocket cost for dentures. Her first thought was, “I can’t afford this.”
Determined to find a solution, Buck researched many options. Finally, someone referred her to the Washtenaw Dental Fund. “I’m really thankful for it,” she says.
Thanks to the fund and the dental clinic supported by Washtenaw County at the Trinity Health Haab Health building in downtown Ypsilanti, Buck’s father received the care he needed. This included tooth extractions and new dentures.
For 10 years, the clinic and fund have helped fill gaps in dental care for low-income residents. In 2024 alone, the clinic served 3,385 patients across 7,712 visits.
The clinic is the result of a partnership between the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) and Michigan nonprofit My Community Dental Centers. It also receives support from the Washtenaw Health Project and Washtenaw County government, which allocates $20,000 annually from its general fund. Trinity Health donates the clinic’s space in the Haab medical building.
The clinic offers dental care for adults and children with most Medicaid plans, Healthy Kids Dental, MIChild, and uninsured low-income patients. It also provides reduced fees for uninsured veterans.
Before the clinic opened, finding a dentist who accepted Medicaid for adults was difficult. “Many dentists took Medicaid for children because reimbursement rates are higher, but not for adults,” explains a WCHD spokesperson. “This clinic really stepped in and saved the day.”
Though recent state-level changes have encouraged more private dentists to accept Medicaid, wait times remain long. The clinic acts as a crucial safety net, reserving spots for patients who struggle to find care elsewhere.
WCHD officials say they are proud of the decade-long partnership. “This is not a health department effort alone,” says one official. “We are fortunate to have this valuable resource in our county.”
