The Munroe-Meyer Institute's ambitious Caring for Champions Program takes another big step forward in August when the UNMC College of Dentistry and MMI open the MMI Dental Clinic.
Claire Koukol, DDS, is the director of the dental clinic, which will begin seeing patients one day a week on Aug. 4.
"The College of Dentistry is very excited to be returning to MMI," she said.
The UNMC College of Dentistry has a strong history of collaboration with MMI – the college's postgraduate residency in pediatric dentistry was located in the MMI building before moving to Children's Hospital & Medical Center in 2011.
Dr. Koukol, a pediatric dentist, said the clinic initially will be staffed by herself and her pediatric dental residents. Later this year, the clinic will increase the days of operation and add general dentists and residents.
"The goal of this clinic is to care for patients across the lifespan and be their dental home, a place for routine care as well as treatment and emergency care," Dr. Koukol said. "Pediatric dentists routinely see patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). That is part of our day-to-day practice. But it can be hard to find general dentists who are trained to see patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our other goal for the College of Dentistry is to teach dental students and residents how to care for people with IDD.
"We're eventually going to have dental students and dental hygiene students, as well as other dental residents, rotate through the clinic and provide care to these patients. It's going to be a great opportunity for everyone."
Dr. Koukol called the new MMI home a "dream building."
"It's nice that all the providers are in one building, and we can talk to each other and understand how to treat these patients in the best way possible," she said.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a high-risk population in terms of dental caries and oral health problems, Dr. Koukol said.
"This clinic will provide a dental home for them," she said. "And if it's far from where their actual home is, I hope we can train our dental students and get dentists in the communities comfortable caring for these patients."
Patients will receive the best care in an outstanding clinical environment at the MMI clinic, Dr. Koukol said.
"It's a beautiful clinic. The rooms are large and provide space for families, guardians and caregivers to stay with the patients during the appointment." The dental appointment rooms also are negative pressure rooms, which provide the safest possible environment for treating patients with infectious diseases.
Dr. Koukol said her residents, who have been serving patients at Children's Hospital & Medical Center, have talked to parents and caregivers who are excited about the new MMI clinic.
"I've already noticed that we have some new patients of all ages, and we're excited to work with the other providers at MMI to provide a dental home and care for them," Dr. Koukol said.
Janet Guthmiller, DDS, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry, is thrilled to reignite the college's partnership with MMI.
"Our College of Dentistry team is looking forward to providing the most positive and comprehensive dental care experience for patients of all ages and abilities," she said.
Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD, said the dental clinic was an important step in MMI's vision for the Caring for Champions program.
"MMI's mission is to transform the lives of the people we serve, and our collaboration with the College of Dentistry allows us to offer an important service to our clients," he said. "As we take advantage of the opportunities offered by our new home to explore new initiatives and collaborations to positively impact the IDD community across the lifespan, this clinic is an exciting example of the type of innovations that now are open to us."
For more information on the MMI Dental Clinic or to make an appointment, see the website.