Delaware Public health dental clinics closed permanently

The Delaware Division of Public Health announced April 13 that its Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services will not reopen its public health dental clinics for direct patient care.

The clinics, which previously operated within the Delaware State Service Centers, have been temporarily closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the temporary closure of the clinics was largely driven by the pandemic, the decision to permanently close them was under consideration before it began. Steady declines in the number of patients served through the clinics over the last five years as well as an increasing shift in programming focused on school- and community-based outreach led to the closure decision.

The DPH oral health program will continue to support access to quality oral health services through the Delaware Smile Check Program, a portable preventive dental program delivered on site in schools, that includes case management to connect families to providers that can best meet their dental needs, provide oral health and nutrition education, and assist families with securing insurance, as well as other services as needed.

“Our priority is to continue with efforts to decrease the burden of oral disease for Delawareans, particularly for families with disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Dr. Nick Conte, bureau director. “Portable dental programs have allowed us greater opportunity to reach populations that may experience barriers in accessing dental care services. We look forward to resuming and expanding services provided through Delaware Smile Check and other community-based programs to address the needs of the community.”

Over the past year, the DPH oral health program has identified children with urgent oral health needs and unmet dental needs, and successfully connected them with a dental home while the dental clinics have been closed. Notification and additional information were sent to patients regarding the permanent closure.

Previous DPH dental clinic clients can contact the Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services at 302-622-4540 to get help finding providers in their community that meet the needs of their family.

For more information, go to the Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services website.