Smiles Across Montana

• Program Representative(s) Interviewed: Crystal Spring, Executive Director
• Location: Montana
• Program Overview: Smiles Across Montana (SAM) is a mobile and portable dental care program dedicated to expanding access to dental healthcare across Montana’s rural communities. With a mission to provide high-quality, minimally invasive, and patient-centered care, SAM serves a range of populations, including school-aged children, nursing home residents, people with disabilities, tribal communities, and the uninsured.
  
  SAM focuses on preventive care, including X-rays and intraoral films, while also providing restorative treatments and nutritional counseling. Because SAM is often a patient’s only point of contact with a healthcare professional, the program also provides health education, continuity of care, teledentistry, and referrals to local providers. The program also provides screening and education on topics like diabetes and behavioral health. The team comprises dentists, dental hygienists, and community health workers who work collaboratively to ensure that oral health is a gateway to broader health engagement and well-being.

Models represented by this program:

• Mobile Health Units
• Oral Health Mobile Models