Central ND News

The Bismarck State College (BSC) Foundation has secured a $75,000 grant to support the new Mystic Smiles dental clinic and the launch of dental career pathways at the college. The grant, awarded by the North Dakota Community Foundation’s Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Grant Fund, will be used to purchase 3-D imaging equipment and upgraded sterilization technology for the clinic.

Kari Knudson, Executive Director of the BSC Foundation, said, “We are grateful to the North Dakota Community Foundation and the Otto Bremer Trust for recognizing the importance of the Mystic Smiles dental clinic and dental programs at BSC. This grant helps us address two urgent needs: expanding access to pediatric dental care for underserved families and creating high-quality, hands-on training opportunities that prepare BSC graduates to meet the state’s workforce demand.”

In central and western North Dakota, patients often wait up to eight months for dental care. Only 16% of North Dakota dental providers accept all Medicaid patients. The Mystic Smiles clinic aims to reduce these barriers by accepting Medicaid, offering a sliding fee scale, and providing care for children aged 13 and younger. Referrals come from partners such as Bridging the Dental Gap, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health.

Dr. Tegwyn Brickhouse, in-house pediatric dentist at Mystic Smiles, stated, “Too many children in our state face barriers to timely, affordable dental care. By pairing care with student training, Mystic Smiles improves health outcomes today while building the dental workforce of tomorrow.”

The Mystic Smiles clinic opened in May 2025 as North Dakota’s first pediatric dental clinic of its kind. Located at 210 W. Century Avenue in Bismarck, it operates as a non-profit owned by BSC and is intended both as a community resource and as a future training site for students entering new dental programs at the college.

The idea for Mystic Smiles began after early discussions between Dr. Katie Stewart of SDY Dental and BSC about workforce shortages in dentistry across North Dakota. According to a recent survey from the North Dakota Dental Association cited by Stewart, 98% of dentists in the state believe there is a shortage of dental professionals; over 80% tried hiring someone last year but most were unsuccessful.

BSC Interim President Dan Leingang commented on industry partnerships: “This grant helps BSC do what we do best as a polytechnic institution, and that is partnering with industry to train students while solving real workforce and community needs. We are appreciative of the North Dakota Community Foundation and Otto Bremer Trust for supporting this important work.”

Interest in BSC’s future dental hygiene program has been significant; more than 100 prospective applicants have already expressed interest as the program seeks initial accreditation with the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).