MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A major investment in oral health could soon expand care for thousands of families across south-central Kansas. PrairieStar Health Center has secured a $600,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation, funding that will help launch construction of a new, larger dental clinic — if the community can match it.
To unlock the grant, PrairieStar must raise $676,300 locally. Once met, the foundation dollars will be released and applied toward a planned 14,900-square-foot, 14-operatory dental facility expected to dramatically increase patient capacity.
“This is exciting and a little nerve-wracking,” CEO Bryant Anderson said during a recent interview. “It’s a big lift, but it’s an opportunity to change dental access for this entire region.”
Growing need across rural Kansas
The project has been years in development. PrairieStar leaders say rising demand — especially among children and families in rural counties — exposed limits in their current eight-chair clinic.
Dental Outreach Coordinator Alicia Harrison and her team regularly see the consequences firsthand.
They travel to about 64 school sites across nine counties, screening every child annually as required by state law. They also visit nursing homes and facilities that serve people with disabilities, often acting as navigators to connect patients with care.
“We find kids going to school in pain,” Harrison said. “Some don’t even realize their teeth shouldn’t hurt when they eat. And many families have to drive an hour or more to find a dentist — if they can find one who takes Medicaid at all.”
She says untreated cavities, infections and abscesses are common in areas with few providers. In some cases, children have never had a dental home.
LINK: PrairieStar awarded $600,000 challenge grant from Mabee Foundation
More than just teeth
Health officials emphasize oral care isn’t cosmetic — it’s foundational.
Anderson noted that dental infections can contribute to broader health issues, including heart complications and other systemic problems.
“It’s preventative medicine,” he said. “If you don’t have good oral health, it can affect the rest of your body. This clinic is about keeping people healthy, not just fixing teeth.”
What the new clinic would add
If fully funded, the new facility would:
- 14 new dental suites, one would be fully accessible for wheelchair users
- Expanded labs
- Increase in-reach appointments
- Allow for greater outreach to rural counties
PrairieStar estimates the expansion will allow at least 2,000 more patients per year to receive care — a conservative figure administrators say could grow higher.
“We didn’t want to overpromise,” Anderson said. “But the need is there.”
Impact on seniors and people with disabilities
Beyond children, PrairieStar teams also serve seniors in nursing homes and individuals with developmental disabilities — groups that often struggle to communicate discomfort or travel to appointments.
Harrison says even simple screenings can change lives.
“We’ve seen patients whose behavior improves once their pain is gone,” she said. “Sometimes it’s something as simple as identifying decay and getting them treatment. The difference can be huge.”
The new clinic’s accessible treatment room is designed specifically for patients using wheelchairs or specialized equipment, reducing barriers that currently limit care.
Community support needed
The full project carries an estimated price tag of about $9.6 million. The Mabee Foundation’s challenge structure is intended to encourage local investment.
“They want to see the community engaged,” Anderson said. “We’re grateful for the businesses and individuals who’ve already stepped up, and we’re asking others to help us meet this goal.”
If PrairieStar reaches the fundraising target, construction could move forward on the new dental center adjacent to its current facility.
For families across the region, it could mean shorter drives, faster appointments and fewer children and seniors living with preventable pain.
“Dental care is basic care,” Harrison said. “Everyone deserves access to it.”