The eight examination chairs in the expanded Boyle McCauley Health Centre double the number of patients that can be seen. Photo: John Ulan.
The newly expanded Boyle McCauley Health Centre Dental Clinic (BMHC) provides convenient access to dental care for vulnerable populations and will continue to be a valuable hands-on learning environment for dentistry and dental hygiene students.
"We are able to provide dental care to an underserved population that often goes without adequate care," said Paul Major, chair of the University of Alberta's School of Dentistry.
Located in its new site in the Métis Capital Housing Corporation Renaissance Tower, the $1.5-million expansion was made possible by a partnership between the School of Dentistry, The Métis Nation of Alberta, BMHC and Alberta Health Services (AHS).
Oral health-care services have been provided by the BMHC since 1993, but it has outgrown the space. Each year, more than 2,000 patients visited the clinic, which until the expansion had only four operatory chairs.
The modern, eight-chair clinic will be able to accept 1,000 more visits per year, with reduced wait times for followup appointments and increased capacity to accommodate more emergencies.
"We are very excited that our partnership with Alberta Health Services and the University of Alberta's School of Dentistry has resulted in the expansion of our dental clinic, making it possible for more members of our community to access comprehensive, affordable dental care," said Cecilia Blasetti, executive director of the BMHC.