Dental

A HRSA Grant was awarded to Granite County Medical Center in 2009 in the amount of $378,000. The money will be dispersed over a three year period for the Mobile Health Service, with emphasis on providing dental care in Granite County, Population: 3,000.

Granite County has not had a dentist for over 10 years and this fills a tremendous need in the community.

The grant money afforded the purchased of a 32ft 5th wheel trailer retro fitted for medical and dental purposes. In addition, a four-wheel drive dodge pickup was also purchased to move the trailer around The County. After these 2 items, along came the equipment for dental services, which included dexis (digital x-ray) dentrix (software package) all other equipment and supplies to outfit a complete dental unit. The Grant also covers the cost of the Dentists, Dental Assistant & Hygienist.

Patients are able to use dental insurance, Medicaid, rural health discount program, Montana Healthy Kids, and private pay to cover some of the costs of the service. The mobile Unit can provide extensive dental care and medical needs from the young to the elderly.

In order to keep the Mobile unit in service we are looking to other sources of funding until it is fully sustainable on its own. The first patient was seen on June 8th. The Moblie unit currently is in Drummond & Philipsburg alternating on Tuesdays. The Hygienist will begin this month and will be available on Wednesday’s.

We are very excited and appreciate the generous support we received from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for $10,000, this gift will fund several days of dental operations in the county, which is the goal of the Project. It is a good feeling to see Montanans supporting and helping Montanans to sustain healthcare for our citizens.

In addition, to Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, we have received generous donations from the following:

Northwestern Energy in the amount of $2,000,

John Carlson & his wife Debbi of Henry Schein Dental Equipment providing dental equipment & supplies totaling $11,000.

Location:

Granite County Medical Center
310 Sansome Street
Philipsburg, MT 59858
1 (406) 859-3271

Staff in Dental

Russell Blackhurst, DMD

Russell Blackhurst, DMD grew up in Boise, Idaho, where he attained a degree in Biology from Boise State University in 2001. After taking a couple of years off to explore the globe with his whitewater kayak, Russ moved to Louisville,...

Lisa Metesh

I was born in Seattle and my family moved to Philipsburg when I was in Elementary School where I went on to graduate from Granite High School.

I attended Western Montana College pursuing a Business Degree until I married my husband...