| The Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation has donated a total of $1.38 million to Wichita State |
| University's (WS) College of Health Professions for large-scale projects such as the expansion |
| of the dental hygiene clinic, development of a dental residency program, as well as, construction |
| of the program's building, and a $50,000 endowed dental hygiene scholarship. |
| |
Delta Dental of Kansas Dental Hygiene Clinic
|
| In 2004, the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation provided $300,000 to renovate and expand the WSU |
| dental hygiene clinic, which is now the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation Dental Hygiene Clinic. |
| Total funding of the project reached $1 million through commitments from six foundations, including |
| the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation. |
| |
| The majority of funds raised created a state-of-the-art facility with a new dispensary and reception |
| area with 24 operatories. Adding several operatories allowed the class size to increase by 20% in |
| order to meet the increasing need for hygienists statewide. The remainder of the funds raised |
| created an endowment to supplement additonal clinical faculty salaries needed for the increased |
| class size. |
| |
Advanced Education in General Dentistry
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| The Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation granted $250,000 to Oral Health Kansas in 2006 to fund |
| initial research for an Advanced Education in General Dentristy (AEGD) program on the campus of |
| Wichita State University. A multi-party project of Oral Health Kansas, WSU College of Health |
| Professions, Via Christi Health Systems and GraceMed, the AEGD program is a one-to-two year |
| residency program for dentists who desire to expand their clinical and practical knowledge. In 2008, |
| the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation and Delta Dental of Kansas committed an additional |
| $3 million to the AEGD program. The joint gift, which was distributed over a 3-year period, provided |
| funding for the construction of the AEGD building. |
| |
| WSU's goal is to attract dentists looking to expand their education with a program that offers |
| state-of-the-art technology and a broad range of clinical experience. The AEGD program is a |
| community resource aimed at increasing oral health care while encouraging dentists to stay in |
| Kansas and build long-term careers. Services available through the facility will include primary dental |
| care, pediatric dentistry, implants and full mouth rehabilitation, orthodontics and advanced clinical |
| techniques. In addition to training dentists, dental hygienists and assistants can complete their |
| rotations at the facility. |
| |
| WSU is working with its community partners through the AEGD program to increase access to oral |
| health care in many rural and low-income Kansas communities where the need is great. The majority |
| of Kansas counties (94 of 105), along with the cities of Topeka and Wichita, are designated as |
| "Health Professionals Shortage Areas" for dentistry by the federal government's Health Resources |
| and Services Administration. Kansas has 36.8 dentists per 100,000 residents, which is 33% below |
| national targets. |