The Ministry Door County Medical Center Dental Clinic in Sturgeon Bay is a non-profit clinic that has been providing free oral health care to the youth of Door and Kewaunee Counties since 1999. It is the only free clinic in our community. Originally housed in the Open Door Free Clinic, the MDCMC Dental Clinic moved to its present location in the Lakeside Surgical Building in 2003. The clinic is open each Wednesday and/or Friday from 8 am until 5 pm. The goal of the MDCMC Dental Clinic is to improve the oral health of 3-18 year old youth in Door and Kewaunee Counties.
The volunteer orthodontist does small appliances for children as well as procedures at reduced rates for those who have severe oral health issues. We also have a retired oral surgeon who volunteers to perform more difficult oral extractions.
The free dental program targets youth in Door and Kewaunee Counties that are ages 3-18 that are on Medicaid, BadgerCare, BadgerCare Plus, are low income, disabled, underinsured or have no dentist. The clinic is also the provider of oral health check-ups to 90% of the Head Start program here in Door County.
The clinic serves a very diverse group of patients from throughout our region. According to the 2008 U. S Census Bureau, 1.4% of the people residing in Door County are Hispanic, yet Hispanic youth accounted for 18% of the visits to the MDCMC Dental Clinic. The clinic has a large Hispanic population, many whom speak little or no English. The clinic uses an interpreter, when available, from the Hispanic Resource Center or an ESL teacher to assist when there is a language barrier.
We are connected by many local organizations and receive referrals from the Hispanic Resource Center, Healthy Families Program, Door County Department of Social Services and the Door County Health Department.