Wayne County is moving ahead with plans to restore public dental services, advancing equipment acquisitions, staffing and technology arrangements as officials work toward reopening a clinic that could serve thousands of residents who struggle to find affordable care.
The effort comes as county health officials warn that access to dental treatment has become particularly difficult for Medicaid recipients and low-income residents. According to June 4 Board of Supervisors meeting minutes, just one of Wayne County’s 16 dentists accepted Medicaid patients at that time, and that provider was not accepting new patients.
The county’s Oct. 20 Board of Supervisors meeting packet included resolutions addressing donated dental equipment, staffing, practice management software and installation services for the proposed clinic.
The equipment came from Livingston County, which declared several items surplus and made them available to Wayne County Public Health. The donated materials include five dental chairs, two X-ray units, two operatory lights, carts, a vacuum pump and other equipment needed for clinical operations.
The county also developed positions for a dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant and health office manager. Those four positions represent the initial staffing model envisioned for the clinic.
Another proposal would authorize an agreement with Henry Schein One for Dentrix Ascend Accelerate, a practice management platform that would handle patient records, scheduling, billing and clinical documentation. A separate agreement would cover professional installation of dental equipment.
The initiative has been championed by Huron Supervisor Dave Fantuzzo, who worked with Public Health Deputy Director Kerry VanAuken and other county officials to evaluate the feasibility of restarting the program.
During the June discussion, VanAuken described a substantial gap in care for residents who rely on Medicaid or cannot afford treatment from private providers. She said two dental providers outside Wayne County also accepted Medicaid but were not taking new patients.
Officials estimated preliminary startup expenses could reach $400,000, including approximately $246,000 in equipment costs before accounting for possible donations or discounted materials.
The county’s former dental clinic space retains some of the infrastructure required to operate a practice, including cabinetry, plumbing and electrical systems. That could help limit the cost of reopening.
County officials have also discussed seeking grants and using existing resources to reduce expenses.
The proposed clinic would be open to the general public, with an emphasis on children, Medicaid recipients and other underserved residents. Officials have stressed that the goal is to fill gaps in available care rather than compete with private dental practices.
The county’s planning documents establish significant progress toward reopening, although an operational start date and patient appointment procedures have not been established in those records.
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