Help Us Bridge the Gap in
Access to Rural Dental Care
Tooth decay doesn’t discriminate, but access to care does.
Your support will directly help create a space where children can smile without pain, where seniors are no longer forgotten, where adults can regain their health and self-esteem, and where families feel seen and cared for. Together, we can bridge the gap for access to dental care in Kansas.
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Far too many children, seniors and individuals with disabilities are quietly suffering from serious oral health issues – conditions that are often painful, life-altering and preventable.
In communities across our region, people are losing permanent teeth to decay, gum disease and infection. Some face diagnoses like oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer – often without access to the care they urgently need.
The Need for Greater Access
In order to combat these oral health issues, PrairieStar provides dental outreach at 64 school attendance centers, plus nursing homes, Disability Supports of the Great Plains and TECH. “The dental services offered by PrairieStar to the developmentally disabled individuals served by Disability Supports, represents a vital contribution to their overall health, well-being and feeling of inclusion in our community. This support is deeply appreciated, as it alleviates financial burdens and ensures access to essential care that might otherwise be out of reach. Through this program, as well as an enduring and overarching commitment to all those in their care, PrairieStar’s comprehensive efforts exhibit true dedication to community wellness,” Disability Supports of the Great Plains CEO, Rick Staab said.
Children we care for are often unaware they have cavities, because to them the pain and discomfort is normal. Over 17% of school aged children screened are in need of urgent care. Many are referred to PrairieStar because their communities lack dentists who accept Medicaid.
All nine counties served by PrairieStar face a severe shortage of dental care providers, with population-to-dentist ratios significantly higher than the Kansas state average. In Kiowa and Stafford Counties, there are no practicing dentists.
With only eight dental operatories, PrairieStar is operating at full capacity and is unable to meet the increasing demand for care. Current wait time for a new patient to schedule a basic cleaning is a minimum of two months, and a wait-list of 86 pages.
“There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a four-year-old with an abscess, a tired expression, and multiple areas of decay, stating that it hurts when they eat.”
– PrairieStar Dental Outreach Coordinator, Alicia Harrison
PrairieStar remains deeply committed to improving oral health access in rural Kansas. However, to continue meeting the needs of the community, expanded access to care is not just important – it is essential.
Every day, we meet children in our schools who are struggling to learn because of constant mouth pain. We see the seniors in our nursing homes – the ones who are too often overlooked – who long for something as basic and dignifying as clean, healthy teeth. We stand beside individuals with disabilities who depend on a steady, caring hand. These are the people who inspire us, who remind us why our work matters so deeply.
Building a New Dental Clinic to Serve Underserved Kansans
PrairieStar Health Center is at a pivotal point for our community. Your support will help us bridge the gap in affordable and accessible dental care.
Critical Expansion for Comprehensive Care
At PrairieStar Health Center, we see the difference a healthy smile can make – in confidence, in comfort and in the overall well-being of a person’s life. However, too many in our community still face barriers to receiving the dental care they desperately need.
That’s why we’re building a new 14,900 sq. ft. dental clinic with dental outreach space and a drive-thru pharmacy.
This expansion is more than just brick and mortar, it represents our deep commitment to providing quality care for all. With 14 new dental suites, including a handicap accessible suite with room for wheelchairs, and space for an additional dentist and hygienist, we will be able to provide compassionate, high-quality care to 2,000 more patients each year.
A Vision Beyond Dental Care
A drive-thru pharmacy will be incorporated into the building to increase access to affordable medications for patients across our rural service area. The pharmacy will support both healthy outcomes and financial sustainability through participation in the 340B drug pricing program.
Challenge Grant Mabee Foundation - Eagle Radio
Alicia Harrison – Dental Outreach Coordinator, Bryant Anderson – CEO, and Public Relations for PrairieStar Health Center, Eagle Radio audio clip. (Feb 03, 2026)
Your Role
Your support in helping to “Bridge the Gap in Access to Rural Dental Care” is appreciated. Whether you donate, help fund raise or spread the word, you will be playing an instrumental part in this project.
Join Us
Together, we can bridge the gap in access to dental care in our community.
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