Our History

Early 2000’s

Dental health and community leaders organize to discuss the lack of access to dental care for low-income children in Christian and Stone Counties.

2005
$406,751 grant from Missouri Foundation for Health awarded for dental clinic in Ozark to serve Medicaid-eligible children from Christian and Stone Counties.

2006
First patients seen at Children’s Smile Center (CSC) clinic in Ozark.

Jan 2009
Facility capacity increased with the addition of three dental operatories, increasing the number of dental chairs from three to six.

Jan 2011
Satellite in Branson West opens one day per week for southern Stone County children, reducing drive time and transportation costs for families.

Aug 2011
Branson West satellite expands to two days per week (until July 2013).

Jan 2012
Lawrence and Barry Counties added to the service area of CSC.

Jan 2013
CSC announces major expansion with decision to build a second clinic in Aurora, located in Lawrence County.

Jan 2013
First patients seen at CSC clinic in Aurora, open four days a week.

Sep 2014
Aurora clinic expands from four days per week to five days per week.

May 2017
State of Missouri shifts Medicaid for low-income children to for-profit insurance companies, dramatically increasing administrative and bureaucratic costs for CSC.

Mar 2020
CSC responds to global pandemic by providing emergency services during the two-month shutdown, while at the same time working to fund continuing operations in the face of dramatic reductions in revenue.