Fowler Dental Clinic
To donate:
Visit www.fowlerclinic.org and click on the donation button for a PayPal option
Mail a check or bring donations to: N3150 Highway 81, Monroe, WI 53566
Eligibility guidelines:
Between 1 and 12 years old
Permanent address in Green County
Receives free or reduced school lunch, or Wisconsin Forward Health/Medicaid Coverage
No other dental insurance
MONROE - Although the Fowler Dental Clinic has been serving uninsured and underinsured children in Green County since 2009, they were in a place where volunteers were lacking and services needed to increase.
But before closing their doors, some key people stepped in to not only help but expand the program to offer more services and see more patients in Green County.
When Fowler Dental Clinic Executive Director Deb Douglas came on board, she worked to access more grants for the clinic. She hoped to eventually have enough dentists and staff to provide comprehensive care. She said she made it her mission to "go big or go home."
That dream became a reality Nov. 17 when patients from Fowler Dental Clinic were provided hospital dentistry services at Monroe Clinic. Fowler Dental Clinic staff used an operating room and other services for general anesthesia on their young patients.
"The Monroe Clinic has been unbelievably supportive of this program," Douglas said.
Their first day, five children were treated and 50 services were performed, including X-rays, 39 crowns, four root canal-type procedures and four fillings. The combined donated value was more than $12,000.
"We have the program up and running, and now we're ready to let people know and make it known in the community the services we can provide," Douglas said.
Doug Wilson, a pediatric dentist who has had his own practice at Madison Pediatric Dental in Madison for almost 40 years, joined Fowler Dental Clinic in April and has been the key to extending services. He works part time and spends two days a month volunteering in Monroe. Through the years, he saw several referral patients from Monroe and knew how important the program was to Green County.
"The need was here," Wilson said. "I'm not sure the program would have survived."
Although other doctors volunteer their time, Wilson's credentials are important, since he has the ability through a specialty license to provide services a general dentist can't. Aside from age, behavioral problems, developmental disabilities, cognitive and emotional impairments, complex medical issues or extensive dental work are other issues that make treatment in a dental office difficult or impossible.
"It's not uncommon to have 10 to 12 crowns on a 3-year-old," Wilson said, noting that a hospital setting is the best place for procedures like that on that age group. "We want them to enjoy coming to the dentist."
Douglas said Monroe Clinic welcomes her staff like their own and provides additional tools for them, including the operating room, staff, technicians, nurses and anything else they might need.
The mission of the Fowler Dental Clinic aligns with the mission of Monroe Clinic, Douglas said, and working with them has been a positive step. After the new year, they're also planning to move to an office within Monroe Clinic, although nothing is set in stone.
For Amber Griepentrog and her 12-year-old daughter, Zoe, the Fowler Dental Clinic has made a world of difference. She's been bringing her children for three years and said she isn't sure what she would do without it. Griepentrog has Badger Care for insurance, and providers are hard to come by.
Medicaid is also known for being full of restrictions and challenging to submit claims for payment.
"It's nice not to have to drive over an hour to get to the dentist," she said, noting that she suffers from chronic back pain, which would make the ride miserable.
"I strongly believe in dental," said Griepentrog, who had braces and retainers when she was younger. "Your teeth are the most important thing."
This year, Fowler Dental Clinic has provided care for more than 280 children in the community and operates on an annual budget of around $75,000. Paid positions include Douglas at part time, hygienists and dental assistants. Doctors, people working the front desk, bookkeepers, accountants and attorneys, when needed, are all volunteer. Dr. Julio Rodriguez is the other dentist who volunteers around six hours per month.
To learn more, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.fowlerclinic.org.
But before closing their doors, some key people stepped in to not only help but expand the program to offer more services and see more patients in Green County.
When Fowler Dental Clinic Executive Director Deb Douglas came on board, she worked to access more grants for the clinic. She hoped to eventually have enough dentists and staff to provide comprehensive care. She said she made it her mission to "go big or go home."
That dream became a reality Nov. 17 when patients from Fowler Dental Clinic were provided hospital dentistry services at Monroe Clinic. Fowler Dental Clinic staff used an operating room and other services for general anesthesia on their young patients.
"The Monroe Clinic has been unbelievably supportive of this program," Douglas said.
Their first day, five children were treated and 50 services were performed, including X-rays, 39 crowns, four root canal-type procedures and four fillings. The combined donated value was more than $12,000.
"We have the program up and running, and now we're ready to let people know and make it known in the community the services we can provide," Douglas said.
Doug Wilson, a pediatric dentist who has had his own practice at Madison Pediatric Dental in Madison for almost 40 years, joined Fowler Dental Clinic in April and has been the key to extending services. He works part time and spends two days a month volunteering in Monroe. Through the years, he saw several referral patients from Monroe and knew how important the program was to Green County.
"The need was here," Wilson said. "I'm not sure the program would have survived."
Although other doctors volunteer their time, Wilson's credentials are important, since he has the ability through a specialty license to provide services a general dentist can't. Aside from age, behavioral problems, developmental disabilities, cognitive and emotional impairments, complex medical issues or extensive dental work are other issues that make treatment in a dental office difficult or impossible.
"It's not uncommon to have 10 to 12 crowns on a 3-year-old," Wilson said, noting that a hospital setting is the best place for procedures like that on that age group. "We want them to enjoy coming to the dentist."
Douglas said Monroe Clinic welcomes her staff like their own and provides additional tools for them, including the operating room, staff, technicians, nurses and anything else they might need.
The mission of the Fowler Dental Clinic aligns with the mission of Monroe Clinic, Douglas said, and working with them has been a positive step. After the new year, they're also planning to move to an office within Monroe Clinic, although nothing is set in stone.
For Amber Griepentrog and her 12-year-old daughter, Zoe, the Fowler Dental Clinic has made a world of difference. She's been bringing her children for three years and said she isn't sure what she would do without it. Griepentrog has Badger Care for insurance, and providers are hard to come by.
Medicaid is also known for being full of restrictions and challenging to submit claims for payment.
"It's nice not to have to drive over an hour to get to the dentist," she said, noting that she suffers from chronic back pain, which would make the ride miserable.
"I strongly believe in dental," said Griepentrog, who had braces and retainers when she was younger. "Your teeth are the most important thing."
This year, Fowler Dental Clinic has provided care for more than 280 children in the community and operates on an annual budget of around $75,000. Paid positions include Douglas at part time, hygienists and dental assistants. Doctors, people working the front desk, bookkeepers, accountants and attorneys, when needed, are all volunteer. Dr. Julio Rodriguez is the other dentist who volunteers around six hours per month.
To learn more, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.fowlerclinic.org.