TRAVERSE CITY — The sudden closure of the United We Smile dental clinic has left hundreds of veterans and other vulnerable patients without access to specialized dental care, prompting concern from county officials, clinic leaders and health providers during a Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Jennifer Kearns, founder of United We Smile, called the shutdown “a true tragedy for our community” and said it “did not need to happen.”
Over a little more than two years of operation, Kearns said the clinic provided more than $3.7 million in free dental care, including more than $1.2 million specifically for veterans.
“That’s free dental care into our community,” Kearns said.
Kearns said the clinic served patients who were routinely turned away elsewhere, including veterans without insurance, pregnant women and people with intellectual, developmental and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
“Not a lot of dentists are trained to treat uncooperative children with behavioral issues without sedation,” she said. “Sedation dentistry costs quite a bit.
She said the clinic relied on dental students overseen by licensed dentists, keeping costs low while training future providers to work with complex patients.
“Our budget has not changed. We are coming in under budget every single year,” Kearns said.
Kearns said financial instability at United Way, which served as the clinic’s fiduciary partner, contributed to the closure. She said United Way’s executive director resigned in May and that financial transparency became an issue.
“Over the years, money became an issue, and we started realizing the issues. Our executive director of United Way resigned in May.”Kearns said. “He was gone. He left for those reasons. He saw what was happening, and we started investigating or trying to take time away from patient care to investigate what was happening with the books.“
Not long after that, United Way took over the clinic.
“There was money taken out of my account to pay for legal services that merged United We Smile, and disbanded my board in June. I was not aware of that.”
Kearns also raised concerns about a $2.9 million state appropriation intended to purchase the building housing the clinic, saying it was unclear who now controls those funds.
“We don’t know what’s happening with the $2.9 million,” she said.
Dr. David Carlisle, the clinic’s supervising dentist, said staffing changes made it unsafe to continue treating patients, particularly children with complex needs.
“I expressed the liability concerns,” Carlisle said. “What if a kid dies?”
Carlisle said he resigned Dec. 30 after being told key staff positions were eliminated and that his concerns went unanswered.
“I made the decision to submit my resignation,” he said.
Some veterans already in treatment may still receive care through volunteer dentists. Kearns said two dentists have agreed to complete cases already underway, but they are having trouble obtaining medical records from United Way, or accessing nearly two dozen sets of dentures ready to be installed.
“They have graciously agreed to finish the 20-some veterans that are sitting there,” she said.
But she said more than 300 veterans remain on a waiting list with no alternative provider.
Representatives from the Health Department of Northwest Michigan confirmed the clinic filled a unique role that cannot easily be replaced.
“This was a very niche market,” one official said. “That gap, from my understanding, is not going to be filled at this moment.”
Commissioners passed a resolution to explore options to ensure continued dental care access for veterans and other high-need populations affected by the closure.