The clinic, located on Milwaukee's southside at 2906 S. 20th St., is the largest dental service provider on the southside, according to Clinic Director Tori Roucka.,”The School of Dentistry held an open house Thursday to present its new Parkway Dental Clinic on Milwaukee's South Side.

The clinic, located at 2906 S. 20th St., is the largest dental service provider on the South Side, according to Clinic Director Tori Roucka.

The clinic is replacing the previous South Side clinic that closed at the end of 2006. School of Dentistry Dean William Lobb said Marquette's previous South Side clinic and one North Side clinic closed within the last year because of leases from the city expiring.

Since the new South Side clinic opened to patients on Sept. 10, 369 patients have been seen. The clinic is expected to serve about 1,000 patients by the end of the year, Roucka said.

Rana Altenburg, Office of Public Affairs vice president, said the School of Dentistry serves nearly 20,000 total patients annually.

In an address at the open house, University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild said, "Marquette intends to be a partner and continue to be a partner to communities that are in need."

Marquette is one of Wisconsin's largest dental Medicaid providers, Wild said.

Altenburg said the School of Dentistry serves more than 6,700 Medicaid patients annually. Medicaid is a U.S. health program that serves low-income parents, children, seniors and people with disabilities.

Roucka said a majority of patients served at the clinic use Medicaid. The next largest payment form used is cash, and a few use private insurance.

Wild said with the need for Medicaid continuing to climb, it was important for the clinic to launch as soon as possible.

"Our goal is for our dental clinic to provide professional services for modest prices," Wild said.

The full-service clinic contains 10 operatory chairs and two quiet rooms for surgery.

According to Lobb, third- and fourth-year dentistry students are assigned to practice at either the Parkway Clinic or the clinic on Marquette's campus on a rotational basis. About 10 students work alongside about two faculty members at the Parkway Clinic per day.

Over the school year, each student will spend about five days in the Parkway Clinic. Students can choose to spend more days there, Lobb said.

"This experience rounds out their dental education very well," Lobb said.

The dentistry curriculum at Marquette is designed for students to get practice early, Lobb said.

Guy Leavitt, a third-year Dental student said the clinic offers students more one-on-one time with instructors.

"It gives students a lot of opportunities to work on patients," Leavitt said.

Leavitt said the equipment and lab at the clinic are of high quality and the clinic is spacious.

He also said the predominantly Latino South Side community offers a different working environment for students.

"This clinic is another avenue for underprivileged patients to be seen," Leavitt said. "It's good for both students and patients."

Lobb said plans for a new clinic on Milwaukee's North Side are currently in the works.

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