For over 30 years the School of Dentistry has operated a mobile dental program to serve the dental needs of migrant farm workers. Equipment includes portable dental equipment with eight operatories, related compressors, x-ray and other support equipment to provide dental care to under-served populations. Care is provided at two separate sites using this array of equipment.

Migrants
The program was started to treat the large migrant farm worker population that exists in our state. We cooperate and participate with the Northwest Michigan Migrant Health Program in Traverse City which provides funds to cover our annual program expenses. Michigan ranks high in the number of migrant farm workers who travel from as far away as Texas to seek employment. In ranking of states with large numbers of migrant farm workers, it is normally California, Florida and Michigan. Our State has a large farming industry that competes nationally with the production of both vegetables and fruits, famous of which are cherries.
The migrant population has a history of poor oral health caused by a lack of knowledge, poor attitudes and a belief system that does not understand the importance of oral health. Migrant farm workers that we have seen and treated over time come primarily from the Brownsville area of Texas near the border with about 40% of the same people returning to Michigan every year. Many of our patients seen year after year return to work on the same farms. Most of these patients have Spanish as their primary language and can only speak minimal English. Our unique dental program has provided experiences for dental students to be aware of the barriers and difficulties that certain groups have in receiving adequate dental care. We have focused our efforts for dental services primarily in Grand Traverse County working in Kaleva, Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, Northport, Elk Rapids and Traverse City.

Dental Students
We continue to offer our summer migrant dental program using volunteer senior dental students. Student response is consistently overwhelming and a lottery is necessary to select participants. We have documented reductions in all types of restorative care and extractions needed with increases in preventive procedures such as sealants. This reflects the impact of the preventive focus in our program. We have been treating many of the same children for years and our program has focused on prevention. Dental students and faculty who participate are very positive about their experiences. Our equipment includes eight portable operatories located at two separate sites which allows for each student to provide care with their own operatory. Patients are gratified with the caring and preventive motivation of student providers who demonstrate concern for their oral health.
During the extensive period of time this program has operated, over 800 dental students have participated and well over 5,000 individual patients have been treated. Exposure to a unique population in need and the opportunity to focus on complete dental care allows students to develop confidence and a sense of satisfaction. Dental students have the patience and motivation to focus on preventive services for the many migrant children they treat. The students are not paid for this experience, but living expenses such as room and board and transportation are covered by the program. We have an agreement with Northwestern College in Traverse City where our students and staff can be housed for minimal cost. Dental students have commented that this migrant experience has been the highlight of their dental education in providing them the opportunity to share their expertise with a population in great need and one that appreciates their services.

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