West Central Dental Resources, Inc., dba Caring Hands Dental Clinic, began as a vision over a decade ago by a group of caring local citizens. Those visionaries included Dr. Lowell Einerson DDS, Dr. Robert Mohs DDS, Dr. William Heegaard MD, Dr. Timothy Gehring DDS, Jennifer Kuznia, Sister Patrice Kiefer, Ruth Nagle, Mary Lou Olsen and others. These folks realized an urgent need to provide dental care and education to those underserved citizens on Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare programs. Due to the extremely low reimbursements from the State for any dental work provided to these citizens, private dental offices would loose money seeing them, thus the access to care, including children, was very limited at best. Also at issue were the dental emergencies that would have to go to the hospital emergency room for dental care, where only temporary pharmaceutical relief was available.
This group met over the years and obtained initial funding from the Douglas County Hospitals Auxiliary to allow an emergency dental program to begin. With this funding dental emergencies were referred to area dentists for treatment and the offices were paid a stipend for their services, if desired. Finally most of the area dental emergencies were receiving treatment for the problem. This program took some of the pressure off of the hospitals emergency room, but still the area was lacking a clinic to provide preventative dental care and education. Without preventative care and education available, there would be no slowdown in emergencies.
In 2006 the Board obtained additional funding and opened the doors of the Caring Hands Dental Clinic. It first began in borrowed space in a local chiropractors office. Not long after that the big push began, and the Clinic established its home in the Marion Building, located at 700 Cedar Street in Alexandria. The clinic remained at 700 Cedar until moving to their new location in April 2015, at 2209 Jefferson Street in Alexandria. This new state of the art facility can allow the clinic to serve more citizens.
The clinic is recognized as a 501c3 Non-Profit, a Minnesota Critical Access Dental Provider and a National Health Service Corp site. We were nominated for the Minnesota Rural Health Team Award in both 2013 and 2016 and were awarded with it in 2018. We've also been awarded the 2013 Minnesota Department of Human Services, Commissioner's Circle of Excellence Award for the outstanding, high quality dental care and education provided by the Clinic's outstanding staff.
Reviews
Rating 2.6 out of 5 based on 27 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestGracen Lamphier
2 years ago
Made an appointment over 3 months in advance just to show up and have them tell me that I was wrong, I wasn't in the schedule, and they couldn't see me. I even called the other offices in town to make sure that I hadn't gone to the wrong location and I confirmed that I was in the right place. A waste of time.
D Daluge
2 years ago
Its a dentist office what can you say
Minister Lee
3 years ago
Forced to wear a mask. Even when told that we had a medical exemption for wife that has a rare disease. Was told She would have to leave and come back with proof. Rushed us the whole time. Kept telling us that they may not be able to see all the kids and would have to come back. Not kid friendly. With the exception of one staff member that was nice to my youngest. I was they could come to the play area and wait alone? While my kids were in the so called play area there were no toys, tv was off and needed a dvd which I asked for and they said they didn't know where they were at? I see why this place got 3 stars! And that is questionable. I give it 1 star because that is the lowest I can give.
Shawn Mady
3 years ago
Clean office doesn't smell like a dentist office
D Daluge
3 years ago
Its a dentist office what can you say
David Trattles
3 years ago
Gotta agree with the reviews on this one, what a waste of time. Find a different dentist! They dont care abour your well being!
Doug Dahlen
3 years ago
I wanted to have my teeth cleaned. I told them I didn't like fluoride or X-rays I just wanted them cleaned. They told me I had to . I told them no I don't. They continued to try and intimidate me . I told them I would go someplace else and I had got up and left. Apparently they didn't think I was serious because I just got an appointment reminder.
s k
3 years ago
I have gone here for several years. Very happy.
daquilia Frank
3 years ago
I dont like this dental clinic i have called them about 4 to 5 times and asked for them to see me cuz my bad tooth caused me not to be able to eat and now tomorrow morning on December 29 2019 i have to have surgery for my abcess tooth i am very disappointed in this dental clinic and i do not recommend them
David Trattles
3 years ago
Gotta agree with the reviews on this one, what a waste of time. Find a different dentist! They dont care abour your well being!
Kailey Baker
3 years ago
The receptionist Daniela or (something similar) Is EXTREMELY rude everytime I call in. I had to reschedule due to a flat tire and they legit scolded me like mad parents about how I can never come back because calling to reschedule is actually considered not showing up. I asked to speak to a manager she told me no. Proceeded to essentially talk S***
Shawn Mady
3 years ago
Clean office doesn't smell like a dentist office
Minister Lee
3 years ago
Forced to wear a mask. Even when told that we had a medical exemption for wife that has a rare disease. Was told She would have to leave and come back with proof. Rushed us the whole time. Kept telling us that they may not be able to see all the kids and would have to come back. Not kid friendly. With the exception of one staff member that was nice to my youngest. I was they could come to the play area and wait alone? While my kids were in the so called play area there were no toys, tv was off and needed a dvd which I asked for and they said they didn't know where they were at? I see why this place got 3 stars! And that is questionable. I give it 1 star because that is the lowest I can give.
Bree
4 years ago
You have a a family emergency where your stepdad is having open heart surgery you call leave a message how you won't make it the night prior but that isn't good enough for them cause they didn't check the messages so they weren't able to fill the appointment. May I mind you this was 2 years ago now & yet every single time I call to make an appointment it's a lecture about showing up even tho there hasn't been ANY problems since then with coming to every appointment. It's not my problem you are the only dentist in this town that feels the need to let everyone know how much money your losing monthly and yearly all over your walls, the fact that I show up every appointment besides the one due to a good reason doesn't mean I need your lecture every time I call. You also need some help with your customer service that includes the top person cause if you ever have to talk to him be will call you names cause you have to talk to him when you miss a appointment to be able to make another appointment. This place needs serious help with how it's ran and how they treat the people they serve I understand it takes money and it's not cheap but it's about helping people and children not your money. I understand letting someone know about the 24 hr notice but your place takes it to the whole new level of extreme. I believe it truly just helps that you are 1 or 2 places that takes insurance which is why people continue to come to your dentist.
daquilia Frank
4 years ago
I dont like this dental clinic i have called them about 4 to 5 times and asked for them to see me cuz my bad tooth caused me not to be able to eat and now tomorrow morning on December 29 2019 i have to have surgery for my abcess tooth i am very disappointed in this dental clinic and i do not recommend them
s k
4 years ago
I have gone here for several years. Very happy.
Kailey Baker
4 years ago
The receptionist Daniela or (something similar) Is EXTREMELY rude everytime I call in. I had to reschedule due to a flat tire and they legit scolded me like mad parents about how I can never come back because calling to reschedule is actually considered not showing up. I asked to speak to a manager she told me no. Proceeded to essentially talk S***
Doug Dahlen
4 years ago
I wanted to have my teeth cleaned. I told them I didn't like fluoride or X-rays I just wanted them cleaned. They told me I had to . I told them no I don't. They continued to try and intimidate me . I told them I would go someplace else and I had got up and left. Apparently they didn't think I was serious because I just got an appointment reminder.
Koreen Stankey
4 years ago
My kids see the amazing pediatrics guy and he is amazing. He is great with my boys. My son is border autism and had a tooth emergancy they had him in within a hour of calling and did great work even tho my son wasnt very cooperative. I love this place and the staff is great. Nobody likes the dentist but they care about their patient's and makes it easier to get what needs to be done. Thank you caring hands!
Hope Weidemann
4 years ago
I thought it was a good experience, very kind staff. Clean and efficient experience.
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