Rural Health Month: Care, Community and Connection at Advantage Dental+

Every November, Rural Health Month gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect and recognize the unique strengths and challenges of our rural communities. This month holds special meaning to us as many of our practices are located in remote areas across the country. We’re serving patients who rely on us not only for dental care, but for trust, connection and consistency.

When we show up for our rural neighbors, we’re doing more than completing cleanings and educating patients. We’re supporting entire ecosystems, helping people stay healthy so communities can stay strong.

Rural Health Month is a chance to celebrate that work, honor the patients who inspire it, and spotlight the dental teams who make it possible.

Our Responsibility to Patients

Rural communities are tight-knit places where relationships matter, and familiar faces build comfort. That’s why our teams often form bonds with patients that go far beyond the dental chair.

“In a rural community, we often see generations of the same family, and we really get to know our patients beyond the dental chair,” shared Bailey Hansen, Dental Hygienist and Mentor from Hermiston, Oregon. “That trust allows us to provide more personalized care and helps patients feel comfortable opening up about their needs. It’s not just about cleaning teeth, it’s about supporting people we’ve known for years, sometimes since childhood.”

This closeness makes our work incredibly rewarding. But it also makes our responsibility even greater. When a patient trusts us with their smile, they’re often trusting us with much more: their confidence, their wellbeing and their family’s health.

Barriers to Care in Rural Areas

Those living in rural areas face challenges that can make routine dental care difficult. These obstacles exist both inside and outside the practice and they shape the way we approach care every day. Some of the most persistent barriers include:

• Limited Access to Providers: Many rural areas simply don’t have enough healthcare professionals. This shortage means longer drives, fewer appointment options and delayed treatment for many families.
• Transportation Difficulties: For some of our patients, getting to an appointment can mean taking time off work, driving long distances or finding childcare. These everyday challenges can cause people to delay or avoid important care.
• Higher Rates of Chronic Health Conditions: Rural communities often experience higher rates of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. All of which directly affects oral health. Proper dental care becomes even more essential in these cases, but access is often limited.
• Financial Barriers: Affordability is a persistent concern in rural communities. Many families don’t have access to employer-sponsored dental insurance, or they face factors that place healthcare behind more immediate needs.

At Advantage Dental+, we work every day to lower these barriers to make care accessible, understandable, and welcoming.

A Mission Built for Everyone

Advantage Dental+ was created with one mission: To improve the oral health of all.

That mission is alive and well in our rural practices, where our teams are committed to meeting patients where they are while offering compassionate care and building long-term relationships.

Expanding Care Access

Many of our practices partner with schools, local agencies and community programs to provide preventive care before problems become emergencies. By offering screenings, sealants, fluoride varnishes, and education; we help reduce the oral health disparities that disproportionately affect rural communities.

• Accepting a Wide Range of Insurance Plans: Affordability is a major barrier to care, so we prioritize accepting Medicaid and other insurance plans common in rural areas. This approach ensures that all our patients have a place to receive dependable, high-quality dental care.
• Hiring Providers with a Passion for Community Impact: Our team members aren’t just skilled, they’re invested. They understand the importance of accessibility, empathy and partnership in rural healthcare. Many of them grew up in small towns themselves or were inspired by the providers who made a difference in their own lives.  
• The Role of Trust in Rural Care: Trust is everything in healthcare, but in small communities, it’s especially powerful. When patients know their providers, they’re more likely to schedule preventive visits, ask questions, voice concerns, and follow through with recommended treatment. That trust also helps break down dental anxiety, one of the most common barriers to dental care everywhere.

Bailey describes it perfectly, “We know our patients’ families, their stories, and their hopes. They trust us because we’re part of the same community. That kind of connection makes every appointment feel more meaningful.” That is the heart of healthcare. It’s not transactional, it’s relational.

Supporting the Next Generation of Providers

At Advantage Dental+, we’re committed to supporting young clinicians who are passionate about bringing care where it’s needed most with the goal of producing more Dental professionals who understand the landscape and want to make a difference.

Which is why we offer our support in continuing education, growth pathways, and opportunities to work in high-impact environments, giving providers the chance to build meaningful careers while helping transform entire communities.

Celebrating Our Teams

Oral Health is directly connected to overall wellbeing. In areas where people often face more barriers to healthcare, dental providers play a vital role in preventing disease, supporting long-term health and creating a better quality of life.

Every fluoride application, every conversation about nutrition, every repaired cavity, and every restored smile contributes to a stronger, healthier community. 

As we close out Rural Health Month, we’d like to share a heartfelt thank you to all our Advantage Dental+ team members who work tirelessly to make care accessible to every patient.

Your commitment to compassion, education and excellence is what changes lives every day. You are the heart of our mission, and we’re grateful for the impact you have.

Looking for a meaningful career? Visit our jobs website for more career opportunities.