Tribal dental clinic, Nicolet to offer dental hygiene, assistant degrees

From  newsofthenorth.net: “New dental clinic in Lac du Flambeau up for tribal referendum” — On August 8^th, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council approved a resolution to hold a Tribal referendum asking the membership to borrow $4.7 million, to build a new Dental Clinic- the Peter Christensen Dental Campus. The referendum will be held on August 30^th.

This week an informational meeting and a public hearing were held to inform the membership about specific details involving the new facility. The meetings were held in the William Wildcat Tribal Center and presented by PCDC Director Paco Fralick and dental staff. Other speakers included Lenore Mangles (Dean of Health Occupations – Nicolet College), Joni Theobald (LDF Education Director), Dr. Darrell Schmidt – Orthodontist, and Emerson Coy- Director of Tribal Planning.

“Presently the dental clinic is located in the former gymnasium of the Tribal Center. It employs a staff of 35, which increased by 28 in the last year.” Fralick said, “ In the last year alone, the clinic delivered 3.5 times more direct services than in 2010 and earned profit with increased monthly production of four times in comparison to previous years.” The clinic has an in-house Orthodontic program, and a new Dental Implant program scheduled to begin shortly. At this rate of growth and success, a new and larger facility would be ideal. “With more space, we could offer many more services such as Periodontics so that our children do not have to be referred to Eau Claire for dental care.” Fralick said. The needs of the community have outgrown the current facility.