Regional partners say Apple Tree Dental will expand Becker County access; mobile clinic moved into Roosevelt Elementary

Jane Neubauer, a regional Partnership for Health staff member, told the Becker County Board of Commissioners that Apple Tree Dental has secured a lease for Detroit Lakes’ former public works building and expects to expand clinic hours after staff and renovations are in place.

The announcement came during the board’s open forum on a meeting agenda where Neubauer said Apple Tree already serves hundreds of patients from Detroit Lakes and Becker County and is scheduled to open in the new space with initial service days in early summer. “Apple Tree Dental is working with the city of Detroit Lakes to… take over their public works building as of June 1,” Neubauer said.

Neubauer also described ongoing school-based efforts: children’s dental services have moved a mobile clinic into Roosevelt Elementary so students can receive treatment without leaving school. She said 18 schools in the region include dental work on their wellness plans, and that the Detroit Lakes clinic currently operates part time and will expand as staffing allows.

Commissioner Erica (first name used in the meeting transcript) acknowledged the work and thanked Partnership for Health staff; public health nurse Annie Began was singled out by Neubauer and by a commissioner for helping coordinate referrals.

Why it matters: county officials and regional partners say the combination of a leased local clinic and school-hosted mobile services will reduce travel and time barriers for children and adults who rely on public insurance or have limited access to dental care. Neubauer said the program has increased capacity since 2020 but that demand remains high.

What happened next: Neubauer left contact information with commissioners and encouraged referrals and local career recruitment for dental technicians and hygienists.

The board did not take any formal action on the update during the meeting.