Rural Health Dental Clinic, Menomonie, to transition to Family Health Center July 1

The Rural Health Dental Clinic in Menomonie will transition its operations July 1 to Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. (FHC), and will be named Family Health Center Menomonie Dental Center.

The transition will allow for expanded services and hours to patients of all income levels in Menomonie, Dunn County and surrounding areas.

Rural Health Dental Clinic has provided patient care for the past 18 years in Dunn County, while FHC has provided comprehensive dental care for Wisconsin residents for more than 13 years with nine locations.

“Sharon Glessing, one of my local heroes, ran CESA 11 and had trouble getting children in her Head Start program required annual dental check-ups,” said Greg Nycz, FHC director. “She saw a need and did something about it, creating the Rural Health Dental Clinic. Over time she acquired grants and allocations and created dental capacity in this community. She then called us to let us know she was retiring, the program could end and asked if we could help. There is no way we could turn her down.”

“Directing the Rural Health Dental Clinic has truly been the highlight of my career,” Glessing said, “and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to help others.

“Our ability to continue to provide the same type of quality, quantity and service was diminishing because of flat funding. FHC is able to increase capacity and leverage resources so this clinic will continue to benefit patients in Dunn County and beyond. No question, the Clinic is transitioning into good hands.”

Glessing’s work eventually led to the first FHC Dental Center in Ladysmith, with Nycz’s help.

“We want to salute her passion and pioneering efforts with her work in Dunn County,” Nycz said. “She has been getting care to needy people in the community and her pioneering work will continue with FHC stepping in to help maintain dental access. We’re getting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for dental services because of a program she started in November 2002.”

The Family Health Center Menomonie Dental Center will provide patient care at 3375 Kothlow Ave., Suite 40, Menomonie. Dr. Jason Kelbel, a dentist from Family Health Center Ladysmith Dental Center, will transfer his practice Aug. 3 to Menomonie.

Dental services will be available from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. General family dentistry and dental hygiene services will be provided, including preventive, restorative, operative, prosthodontic, endodontic, diagnostic and emergency care.

For appointments, call 715-235-1573.