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Boreal Community Media's Virtual Non-Profit Highlight of the Day: Sawtooth Mountain Clinic's Oral Health Task Force

Nov 14, 2024 07:49AM ● By Editor

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From Boreal Community Media - November 14, 2024


Welcome to the 2024 Boreal Community Media virtual non-profit highlight! In the past, Boreal Community Media hosted an event called Dessert to the Max to celebrate and recognize local non-profits and their incredible work for the community. The event typically coincided with the Minnesota-based celebration Give to the Max, hosted by GiveMN, an annual celebration and “giving holiday” to all non-profits across the state. 

This year, instead of an in-person celebration, Boreal is virtually honoring and highlighting these organizations on Boreal.org. 


The non-profit organization we’re highlighting today is:


Organization Name

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic's Oral Health Task Force


Mission/Work

Our mission is to ensure that every child and young person from 0-26 years old, pregnant moms and seniors 65 and over in Cook County and the Grand Portage Reservation have access to dental treatment and oral health education, regardless of their ability to pay.  All children receive free oral screenings at all schools, daycares, Headstart, WIC and ECFE. Follow-up treatment is provided at Grand Marais Family Dentistry with 90% of costs covered for those who qualify (which is nearly everyone). Gas cards are available to aid transportation.

Our Dental Hygienist and Educator, Bonnie Dalin conducts dental education in schools and health fairs. She helps teachers with dental lessons and creates educational comic books in Ojibwe and English. The Task Force has purchased a portable x-ray machine for Dr. Alyssa Hedstrom DDS to do dental exams at Grand Portage and is providing a scholarship to train a dental assistant from the Reservation. In 2020 the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic adopted the OHTF to make it sustainable.


Upcoming events

November 18, screenings at GP Head Start and Oshki Ogimaag.

A fun fact about Sawtooth Mountain Clinic's Oral Health Task Force


Back in 2102, when we first scanned all the schools, daycares, etc., the cavity rate for all children was 27% (the state average). In 2023, with our program working hard, the overall cavity rate was 7%, with ISD166 at 4.7%!


How someone can donate

All gifts are tax deductible. Donate by mail:
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic 513 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604
Learn more

Contact Bonnie Dalin: 218 370 2559

For a list of all the organizations we’ve highlighted this month, click here.


About Boreal 

Boreal Community Media is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation designed to share stories, news, and information about community activities to keep our local Cook County community connected through our website, boreal.org. In addition, we offer a free business directory, classified advertising platform, and regional events calendar to keep community members up-to-date and engaged throughout the Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, Hovland, Grand Portage, Lutsen, Sawbill Trail, Schroeder, Tofte, and the greater Arrowhead region. Our small but mighty team comprises two part-time employees, talented freelance writers, and event photographers. 

We rely on community members' financial support to continue providing the services you and others depend on each and every day. Learn more here.


If you work for, run, or know of a non-profit that would like to be highlighted sometime during the month of November, click here.

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