The Aspen Group’s TAG Oral Care Center Serves First Patients

The Aspen Group’s TAG Oral Care Center Serves First Patients

Opened in July 2022, The Aspen Group’s TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence has begun serving its first patients at the beginning of this year. This center is located in Illinois and aims to provide free care for underserved patients in the area, according to a press release from The Aspen Group. It is said to provide fillings, extractions, non-surgical perio treatment, implants, and more, acting as a robust dental care center for these patients.

Currently, the center is running a limited capacity until regulatory rules are finalized, and out-of-state dentists will be allowed to visit. With these finalizations, the Oral Care Center hopes to serve even more patients as well as supplement its educational offerings as well, including training courses for dental professionals. In its first training session on implants and restorations, 133 total implants were placed for 26 patients in December 2022, which was a success according to executive director of the TAG Oral Care Center Julie Frantsve-Hawley, PhD, CAE.

“Our first implant course was a huge success and makes us very enthusiastic about the future of the TAG oral Care Center,” Frantsve-Hawley said in the press release. “We’re hopeful the regulatory limitations can be overcome quickly so we can reach more patients in need of this critical care.”

To be qualify for this free care, patients must live in Illinois, be eligible for Medicaid or are uninsured with a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence aims to help these patients find health and confidence in their smile, which is what happened with early patient Nathanial Earsery.

“For many years, I couldn’t find a dental provider who was willing to treat me, and I suffered from immense pain and significant shame about my oral health,” Earsery said in the press release. “After receiving treatment at the TAG Oral Care Center, it brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face that I could be proud of. The caregivers here are so passionate, and they put extra effort into everything they do. I am so grateful to be in their care.”