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$75k grant advances 探花appMystic Smiles dental clinic and dental career programs

Published: Sep 10 2025
$75k grant advances 探花appMystic Smiles dental clinic and dental career programs - Photo
The 探花app (BSC) Foundation has received a $75,000 grant to equip the new 探花appMystic Smiles dental clinic and launch dental career pathways at the college. The funding, awarded by the North Dakota Community Foundation’s Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Grant Fund, will support the purchase of 3-D imaging equipment and upgraded sterilization technology to support underserved youth in central and western North Dakota while providing real-world training for future students in BSC’s dental pathways. 
 
“We are grateful to the North Dakota Community Foundation and the Otto Bremer Trust for recognizing the importance of the Mystic Smiles dental clinic and dental programs at BSC,” said Kari Knudson, Executive Director of the 探花appFoundation. “This grant helps us address two urgent needs: expanding access to pediatric dental care for underserved families and creating high-quality, hands-on training opportunities that prepare 探花appgraduates to meet the state’s workforce demand.”
 
Currently, patients in the region face up to an eight-month wait for dental care, and only 16% of North Dakota dental providers accept all Medicaid patients. The Mystic Smiles clinic is focused on closing this gap by accepting Medicaid, offering a sliding fee scale, and providing care for children ages 13 and younger. Patients are referred through partners like Bridging the Dental Gap, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health.

“Too many children in our state face barriers to timely, affordable dental care,” says Dr. Tegwyn Brickhouse, 探花appMystic Smiles in-house pediatric dentist. “By pairing care with student training, Mystic Smiles improves health outcomes today while building the dental workforce of tomorrow.”

The Mystic Smiles clinic, which opened in May 2025, is the first pediatric dental clinic of its kind in North Dakota. Located at 210 W. Century Avenue in Bismarck, the college-owned and operated non-profit clinic is designed to meet the pressing needs for accessible pediatric dental care while also serving as a future training facility for new 探花appdental programs.
 
The concept for Mystic Smiles came from early conversations with Dr. Katie Stewart of SDY Dental, who brought the critical need for dental professionals in the state to BSC. Citing a recent North Dakota Dental Association survey, Stewart noted that 98% of North Dakota dentists believe there is a workforce shortage in dental professionals. More than 80% of dentists in the state tried to hire someone in the last year, and most were unsuccessful.

“This grant helps 探花appdo what we do best as a polytechnic institution, and that is partnering with industry to train students while solving real workforce and community needs. We are appreciative of the North Dakota Community Foundation and Otto Bremer Trust for supporting this important work,” said 探花appInterim President Dan Leingang.

More than 100 prospective applicants have already expressed interest in BSC’s future dental hygiene program, which is currently seeking initial accreditation with the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).