Hope Dental Clinic Faces Permanent Closure Amid Growing Need

With 25% of Minnesotans lacking dental insurance, Hope Dental Clinic has been a lifeline for uninsured patients across multiple states. Now facing closure, the clinic’s future is uncertain, leaving thousands without access to essential care.

For more than 60 years, Hope Dental Clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota, has provided critical dental care to uninsured and low-income patients. Last year alone, nearly 2,800 individuals from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa turned to the clinic for treatment, many of them unable to afford care elsewhere. With a quarter of Minnesotans lacking dental insurance, the clinic has been a vital resource for those in need.

However, financial pressures have pushed Hope Dental Clinic to the brink of closure. The volunteer-driven organization relies on nearly 450 generous individuals but still faces operating costs of nearly $100,000 per month. Staff layoffs and recent closures have left patients mid-treatment and uncertain about their future care.

The clinic’s impact is profound, with stories of lives changed by restored oral health and renewed confidence. Yet, without immediate funding, the doors are set to close by year’s end. For dental professionals, the looming loss of Hope highlights the urgent need for systemic solutions to address gaps in dental care access and insurance coverage. Click here to read more.