Crescent Community Health Center Expands Services to Support Access

Posted on August 31, 2023 in Giving Back

It’s important to stay on top of oral health concerns. If left untreated, they can develop into bigger issues that impact everyday activities­––things like eating, speaking, and working can all be disrupted by advanced oral health care problems. Untreated dental issues cost US businesses $45 billion each year in lost productivity and 34 million school hours due to unplanned and emergency dental care for students.

There are concerns across Iowa’s rural communities about a lack of access to needed oral health care, with 87 of Iowa’s 99 counties on the dental shortage priorities list. Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation recognizes lack of access as a critical issue affecting all Iowans and has collaborated with various system partners, including Crescent Community Health Center in Dubuque, to alleviate some of these challenges.

What is Crescent Community Health Center?

Opened in 2006, Crescent Community Health Center was intended to provide primary medical and dental care for underserved populations in the Dubuque and tri-state area. Today they serve a wide variety of patients, from very young to older adults, with a holistic approach to healthcare that integrates medical and dental care. Crescent expects to treat approximately 11,500 patients from Dubuque and surrounding counties this year.

As the need for services in their area has expanded, Crescent has grown in size and scope. Over the past several years, they have invested and fundraised to provide patients access to new service offerings, including:

• Implants and other tooth lost replacement options
• Oral surgery
• Dedicated clinic space to care for children
• State-of-the-art onsite dental lab to provide dentures, crowns, and bridges

Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has been proud to support the growth and expansion of these services by providing $850,000 in grant funding.

Training Future Dental Providers

In addition to growing services for underserved populations in the tri-state area, Crescent also focuses on training the next generation of dental professionals to assist with filling access gaps across Iowa. They provide educational opportunities for dental and hygienist students by partnering with certificate, post-doctoral, and clinical training programs to elevate knowledge and clinical skills.

To overcome the access barriers that many Iowans face, it will take the work of many dedicated organizations like Crescent Community Health Center working in partnership with Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and others. Together, we can work to spread healthy smiles across our communities.

Learn more about Crescent Community Health Center.