Covenant’s mobile dental team returns to Detroit classrooms this fall, treating thousands of students at no cost to their families
No Detroit resident should have to live with a toothache because of the cost. Covenant Community Care is welcoming same-day and new patient dental appointments at its three Detroit health centers. The nonprofit is a Federally Qualified Health Center that has served Metro Detroit for more than 25 years. It accepts most insurance, including Medicaid, and offers a sliding scale for uninsured or underinsured patients.
“We see patients every day who’ve been putting off care because they didn’t think they could afford it, or didn’t realize Medicaid is accepted here,” said Lynn Eickholt, D.D.S., chief dental officer at Covenant Community Care. “We want Detroit to know: You don’t have to be in pain. We have same-day appointments, payment options for every budget, and a team ready to help.”
The health centers provide dental exams, digital X-rays and cleanings, along with fillings, sealants, root canals, extractions, crowns, fluoride treatments, deep cleanings and dentures. Pediatric dental care and select oral surgery are also available. The Joy Road and Michigan Avenue locations offer nitrous oxide.
Dental care is available at:
- Michigan Avenue Health Center — 5716 Michigan Ave., 313-554-1095; open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (does not accept same-day new patients)
- Moross Health Center — 20901 Moross Road, 313-626-2600; open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (accepts same-day new patients)
- Joy Road Health Center — 17625 Joy Road, 313-446-8800; open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (accepts same-day new patients)
Patients can schedule an appointment by calling their nearest health center.
Mobile Dental Program in Detroit Schools
Covenant’s care doesn’t stop at the clinic door. Each year, its mobile dental team drives directly into Detroit classrooms, treating thousands of students on-site. The program returns to 18 Detroit Public Schools Community District buildings and three other schools this fall, along with 90 Head Start locations and community partners including Capuchin Kitchen, Covenant Houseand the Salvation Army.
“When we set up in a school, we’re not just treating cavities. We’re helping students avoid the pain that can make it difficult to focus in class,” said Kara Bond, D.D.S, Covenant’s mobile dental team manager. “There is no cost to families. We bill Medicaid directly, and if a child does not have coverage, we provide care anyway. By bringing dental services directly to schools, we help children stay healthy, present and ready to learn.”
Nationally, children miss 51 million hours of school each year because of preventable dental problems, according to the National Journal of Public Health. Covenant’s mobile dental care program removes transportation and access barriers, improves oral health outcomes for children and adults, supports school attendance and academic success, and reduces preventable dental emergencies.
Raising Funds for New Mobile Dental Van
Covenant will host its Links to Care Golf Outing Sept. 28 to help raise funds for a new mobile dental van, expanding the program’s capacity to reach more Detroit schools and community sites.
Schools and organizations interested in booking a mobile dental visit can call 313-575-7502 or email Kara Bond, DDS, mobile dental team manager, at kbond@covenantcommunitycare.org.
The mobile dental team is not available for individual patient requests.
