Dental Grants in North Dakota

If you’re involved in dental health services or workforce development in North Dakota, understanding how the North Dakota Dental Foundation’s grants operate is essential. These grants prioritize innovative collaborations that tackle pediatric dental access and workforce shortages, supporting projects like the Mystic Smiles pediatric clinic and training programs for dental students. Knowing the application steps and eligibility details can position you to contribute to or benefit from efforts that address persistent oral health challenges across the state.

Key Takeaways

• The North Dakota Dental Foundation (NDDF) offers grants focused on improving dental access, education, and workforce development with an emphasis on pediatric care and measurable outcomes.
• NDDF grant recipients include programs like Mystic Smiles dental clinic, which accept Medicaid and provide sliding fee scales to increase dental services for underserved children.
• The North Dakota Dental Loan Repayment Program offers up to $100,000 over five years to dentists and hygienists serving in shortage areas to address workforce gaps.
• Grant applications require eligibility confirmation, project proposals, and collaboration to ensure accountability and sustainability, coordinated through NDDF with support from Cheryl Feltman.
• Outreach and prevention grants support mobile dental services, community events like “Give Hope Through a Smile,” and distribution of free oral hygiene kits targeting rural children’s dental health.

Grantmaking Priorities and Focus Areas

Although dental grants in North Dakota have varied over time, the North Dakota Dental Foundation currently prioritizes improving dental access, education, and workforce development through innovative partnerships that guarantee accountability for results.

You’ll find that grant applications must demonstrate a thorough, strategic approach including planning, implementation, and sustainability to guarantee lasting impact statewide.

Current focus areas emphasize addressing pediatric dental care needs and workforce shortages, such as the recent $75,000 grant awarded to Bismarck State College for the Mystic Smiles dental clinic.

This commitment reflects a clear, detail-oriented approach to enhancing oral health through collaborative, measurable projects.

Overview of the Grant Application Process

Before submitting a proposal, you’ll start by reviewing the grantmaking policy to verify your eligibility and watching the instructional video.

Then, you’re encouraged to contact NDDF manager Cheryl Feltman to discuss your project idea for guidance and clarity.

If invited to proceed, you’ll complete and submit a detailed proposal form to guarantee clear communication throughout the grant review process.

Eligibility Review

To start the dental grant application process in North Dakota, you must first carefully review the North Dakota Dental Foundation’s (NDDF) grantmaking policy to confirm you meet eligibility requirements and watch the provided How-to video.

This guarantees you fully understand NDDF’s focus on projects that improve dental access, education, and workforce development.

Before submitting a proposal, contact NDDF manager Cheryl Feltman to discuss your idea and verify it aligns with their priorities.

Clear communication with all partners is essential to demonstrate accountability and sustainability in your application, increasing your chances of securing funding for your dental project.

Manager Consultation

1. Clarifying your project idea with the manager’s guidance to improve its innovation and potential impact.
2. Understanding the grant’s requirements for partnership accountability and sustained implementation.
3. Preparing a proposal that clearly outlines a strategic plan demonstrating commitment from all involved.

Engaging the manager early increases your grant’s strength and supports a successful collaborative application.

Proposal Submission

When submitting your proposal for a dental grant in North Dakota, you must first thoroughly review the grantmaking policy to confirm eligibility and watch the NDDF’s How-to video for guidance.

After contacting NDDF manager Cheryl Feltman to discuss your project, you’ll need an invitation to proceed with proposal submission.

Your formal proposal must clearly align with the North Dakota State dental health priorities of improving access, education, and workforce development.

Collaboration and accountability among partners are critical. Maintain clear communication and avoid submitting multiple proposals to prevent disqualification in the dental grant application process.

Examples of Successful Grant-Funded Projects

You’ve seen how Pediatric Dental Support projects bring essential care to underserved children, like Apple Tree Dental’s outreach using new digital x-ray technology.

Workforce Training Grants also play a crucial role, with initiatives such as Spectra Health funding travel and lodging for dental students to expand the dental workforce.

These examples highlight targeted funding strategies that directly improve access and capacity across North Dakota’s dental care landscape.

Pediatric Dental Support

Although many dental providers in North Dakota limit Medicaid acceptance, the Mystic Smiles Dental Clinic has successfully broadened access for children by accepting Medicaid and offering a sliding fee scale, directly addressing an eight-month regional wait for pediatric dental care.

This clinic specifically focuses on pediatric dental care for children ages 13 and under. Key aspects include:

1. Equipped with a $75,000 Otto Bremer Trust grant for 3-D imaging and sterilization improvements.
2. Collaborates with Bridging the Dental Gap and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to enhance health outcomes.
3. Trains future dental professionals while increasing access to care.

These efforts elevate access and quality in pediatric dental care throughout the region.

Workforce Training Grants

The $75,000 grant awarded to the Bismarck State College (BSC) Foundation for the Mystic Smiles dental clinic demonstrates how targeted funding can improve both pediatric dental care and workforce training by equipping facilities with advanced 3-D imaging and sterilization technology.

This investment addresses urgent workforce training needs by creating quality hands-on opportunities aligned with the critical shortage of dental professionals in North Dakota.

With over 80% of dentists unable to hire needed staff, BSC’s programs aim to boost oral health by training skilled dental professionals.

The strong applicant interest and partnerships further reinforce the grant’s impact on workforce training.

Historical Charitable Contributions by the North Dakota Dental Foundation

1. Funding educational seminars with national experts in dental esthetics and periodontics, enhancing professional skills within the North Dakota Dental Association.
2. Annual scholarships for dental assistants at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), supporting training and workforce growth.
3. Significant donations for equipment upgrades (e.g., digital radiography at NDSCS) and disaster relief, such as $10,000 to dentists affected by Hurricane Katrina.

These targeted efforts strengthen community access and promote oral health statewide.

Notable Donations and Special Support Initiatives

While you review the historical charitable contributions made by the North Dakota Dental Foundation, it’s important to recognize how their notable donations and special support initiatives have strategically improved dental care access and education across the state. The foundation’s efforts include donations supporting dental access projects, scholarships for dental assisting students, and special grants, such as the $75,000 awarded to the BSC Foundation to upgrade pediatric dental technology.

These efforts, aligned with the North Dakota Dental Association, improve dental access and reflect focused charitable donations.

Give Hope Through a Smile Event and Community Impact

Building on the foundation’s history of donations and support initiatives that improve dental care access and education, the “Give Hope Through a Smile” event continues this impact by directly providing free dental services to over 900 North Dakotans.

You can engage with this effort by:

1. Participating in community involvement activities to support dental care access.
2. Promoting oral health through preventive services offered during the event.
3. Helping address oral health disparities among underserved populations in North Dakota.

This event strategically combines compassionate care and community support to give hope through a smile and foster healthier lives.

Strategies to Increase Licensed Dental Assistants in North Dakota

You can increase the number of licensed dental assistants in North Dakota by expanding accessible training programs like Bismarck State College’s online and clinical coursework, which offers flexible scheduling and scholarships.

Supporting recruitment from high schools with incentives encourages early interest in dental assisting careers and helps build a steady talent pipeline.

Together, increasing training opportunities and strengthening high school recruitment directly address workforce shortages and improve dental care access statewide.

Increase Training Opportunities

To increase the number of licensed dental assistants in North Dakota, you need to expand training opportunities by leveraging targeted programs and financial incentives that address barriers to entry and certification.

You can improve training by:

1. Offering reimbursement for recruiting dental assistants from high schools to encourage early entry into the profession.
2. Providing financial assistance for Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exam expenses, reducing cost barriers for certification.
3. Utilizing resources from the DALE Foundation to supply training materials that boost skill development and workforce readiness.

These strategies directly tackle the dental workforce shortage by fostering well-prepared, licensed dental assistants in practices statewide.

Support High School Recruitment

Increasing licensed dental assistants in North Dakota starts effectively by supporting high school recruitment initiatives that introduce students early to dental careers.

The state incentivizes dental practices with reimbursement options when they recruit high school students into dental assisting programs, encouraging early workforce engagement.

There’s strong demand as over 80% of dentists report challenges hiring qualified dental assistants, exacerbating the workforce shortage.

Programs backed by the DALE Foundation offer educational support and resources for students preparing for the DANB exam, enabling smoother career entry.

These strategies strategically build awareness and address critical gaps in the dental workforce pipeline.

Dental Outreach Programs Serving Patients in Need

1. Reaching rural families through mobile services like the Caremobile, expanding access in Western North Dakota.
2. Hosting large-scale events such as “Give Hope Through a Smile,” which provided free dental care to over 900 people in 2018.
3. Promoting dental hygiene education by distributing one million free toothbrush kits over ten years, targeting children to reduce tooth decay prevalent in rural kindergarteners.

You can support and participate in these efforts to improve community oral health outcomes.

Initiatives to Improve Oral Hygiene Habits in North Dakota Children

You know that 67% of rural North Dakota kindergarteners have tooth decay, so toothbrushing education programs are critical to change this.

You’ll want to involve parents directly, as supervising brushing until age 8 helps establish proper habits.

Plus, distributing 1 million free toothbrush kits over the next decade supports ongoing access to oral hygiene supplies for kids in need.

Toothbrushing Education Programs

Since about 67% of rural North Dakota kindergarteners show signs of tooth decay**, toothbrushing education programs focus strategically on instilling proper habits** early.

You can help combat this by supporting initiatives that:

1. Promote parental supervision of toothbrushing until age 8 to reinforce correct oral hygiene routines.
2. Provide community resources that educate families on preventing tooth decay through consistent brushing.
3. Distribute 1 million free toothbrush kits over 10 years to children in need, emphasizing the importance of dental hygiene education.

These programs aim to create lasting awareness of the benefits of good oral hygiene for children’s health and well-being.

Parental Involvement Importance

Although improving oral hygiene in North Dakota children requires broad community efforts, parental involvement remains vital for success.

Parental supervision is critical until children reach age 8 to guarantee effective tooth brushing, preventing tooth decay and establishing lifelong oral hygiene habits.

Educational initiatives focus on teaching you how to guide your child’s dental care, reinforcing your role in preventing tooth decay.

Community programs support this by distributing free toothbrush kits, aiming to reach one million children-in-need.

Toothbrush Distribution Efforts

Improving oral hygiene in North Dakota children relies heavily on making effective resources accessible, which is why the state has launched a long-term initiative to distribute one million free toothbrush kits to kids-in-need over the next decade.

This toothbrush distribution effort strategically targets oral hygiene to combat high decay rates among rural kindergarteners. You’ll find the program focuses on:

1. Providing free toothbrush kits to children-in-need to guarantee access to essential supplies.
2. Promoting oral hygiene education and parental involvement until age 8.
3. Engaging community partnerships to expand reach and reinforce healthy habits.

This initiative directly addresses a critical public health challenge in North Dakota by fostering lifelong dental health.

Toothbrush Supply Campaign for North Dakota Kids

The Toothbrush Supply Campaign is distributing 1 million free toothbrush kits over ten years to children-in-need across North Dakota, directly addressing the fact that 67% of rural kindergarteners suffer from tooth decay****.

You’ll find each kit includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and educational materials to teach proper dental care.

The campaign stresses the importance of parental supervision for children brushing until at least age eight. Community involvement is essential for expanding access and reinforcing healthy dental habits.

This strategic effort aims to improve oral health outcomes among children statewide by promoting early, sustained education and resources.

Eligibility and Application Steps for Dental Grant Programs

1. Review the North Dakota Dental Foundation’s grantmaking policy thoroughly to align your proposal with their goals.
2. Contact the NDDF manager to discuss your project ideas before submission to guarantee relevance.
3. Submit a formal proposal if invited, detailing your plan for sustainability and measurable impact.

Successful grants focus on outreach, education, and serving underserved populations within the state.

North Dakota Dental Loan Repayment Program Overview

Although dental professionals face a critical workforce shortage in North Dakota, you can offset educational debt by participating in the North Dakota Dental Loan Repayment Program. This program incentivizes General and Pediatric Dentists as well as Registered Dental Hygienists to serve in Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Administered in collaboration with the North Dakota Dental Association, the program prioritizes applicants based on facility scores and geographic need to improve dental health access statewide. Awardees commit to practicing full-time in underserved areas, receiving up to $100,000 over five years to repay loans, addressing the state’s workforce shortage strategically.

Detailed eligibility and application info are on the North Dakota Primary Care Office’s website.

Workforce Challenges and Education in North Dakota Dentistry

North Dakota’s dental care system faces significant workforce challenges, with 98% of dentists acknowledging a shortage of dental professionals and more than 80% struggling to hire staff successfully.

You need to understand these key points:

1. Over 100 prospective applicants have shown interest in Bismarck State College’s dental hygiene program, signaling strong demand for dental education.
2. BSC’s programs emphasize hands-on training to prepare skilled professionals addressing the workforce shortage.
3. Partnerships between BSC and health organizations aim to improve workforce readiness and expand access to care for underserved populations.

These efforts strategically target the state’s urgent dental workforce shortage through education and community collaboration.

Mystic Smiles Dental Clinic and Pediatric Care Services

Mystic Smiles Dental Clinic, launched in May 2025, stands as North Dakota’s first dedicated pediatric dental clinic focused on providing accessible care for children from birth through age 13, including those with special needs.

Located in Bismarck, it addresses regional delays of up to eight months for dental appointments. Supported by a $75,000 grant from the North Dakota Community Foundations Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Grant Fund, the clinic invests in essential equipment like 3-D imaging.

Mystic Smiles also collaborates with Bridging the Dental Gap and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to improve pediatric dental care access and outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Get Dental Treatment if You Can’t Afford It?

You can access dental care options through sliding fee scales and low income assistance programs at community health resources, including nonprofit clinics and outreach events that offer reduced-cost or free treatment based on your financial need.

Is Dental Grant a Real Thing?

Dental grants are a real funding source that you can access through dental assistance programs by meeting specific funding eligibility criteria and following a structured grant application process focused on clear planning and sustainability. This guarantees your project’s success and accountability.

How to Borrow Money for Dental Work?

Like using a telegraph in the digital age, start by exploring personal loan options from banks or credit unions for dental expenses. Also consider credit card financing or specialized dental care loans like CareCredit to spread payments strategically.

Conclusion

You can navigate the North Dakota Dental Foundation’s grant programs like steering a well-charted river—focusing your efforts on access, education, and workforce development. By targeting pediatric care, community outreach, and innovative partnerships, you’ll help turn scarce resources into flowing solutions. Strategic application steps and loan repayment incentives create strong currents moving toward improving oral health outcomes statewide, especially for underserved populations like those served by Mystic Smiles Clinic.