UMKC’s dental clinics have developed a devoted patient pool spanning decades
By BRYCE PUNTENNEY
Since its inception more than a century ago, the UMKC School of Dentistry has been dedicated to serving the Kansas City community and beyond. Last year alone, more than 70,000 patients received oral healthcare in its clinics. Through the years, many of those patients have become as passion-ate about the school as its loyal alumni.
Take Linda Haag, 79, whose his-tory as a patient in the school’s clinics spans nearly 75 years and two buildings – soon to be a third. Allen Norman, 86, who has lived blocks from the school for 30 years, has been a patient for even longer, and will tell any of his neighbors how important the school and its Health Sciences District partners have been to the nearby Longfellow neighborhood that he calls home.
Haag grew up in that same neighbor-hood, and her connection to the school began when she was a kindergartener at Longfellow Elementary School. When her class visited the UMKC School of Dentistry on a field trip, her mom happened to be a class helper that day and was so impressed with the dental school, she decided it would be a good fit for their family’s dental care.
“That’s where it got started,” Haag said. “And that’s the only dental office I have ever been to.”
Patients like Haag and Norman have built loyal ties to the school – along with its dental and dental hygiene students – and are dedicated to contributing to the school’s mission of educating the next generation of dental professionals while receiving top-notch oral care.
Long-lasting Loyalty Between Patient and Provider
Haag’s first visit as a kindergartener was at the school’s longtime address of 10th St. and Troost Ave., where she also received orthodontic treatment. Later, as a young teen, Haag connected with a pair of married dental students and began babysitting for them. She would arrive at their house before they went off to school and would spend the day with their daughter.
“When she was sleeping, I would read dental textbooks so I would know what my dentist was doing,” Haag said.
Another alumni couple, Travis (DDS ’15) and Lauren (DDS ’16) Blaich, can attest to Haag’s loyalty as a patient. They practice at Blaich Dental Arts in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. In 2015, when Travis was a fourth-year dental student and Lauren a third-year, Travis put in a gold crown for Haag. When it was determined she needed another crown, Travis knew Lauren had yet to place one. According to Haag, Travis had been one of her more meticulous dental students, so when he asked if Lauren could do the next procedure, Haag was all in.
The Blaiches remember Haag fondly. “I remember being impressed with the work she had done before,” Travis said. “The amount of time she has been coming to the school clinic – as well as the quality of the care provided – is a testament to the dental care patients receive at the clinic.”
Haag was not the first or the last patient Travis passed on to Lauren. He was always on the lookout for patients who would follow through on their treatment and who needed comprehensive care. Linda fit the bill.
Lauren said, “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for patients like Linda. Travis only handed off his good patients, and Linda was one of them.”
A lifelong learner herself, Haag said the teaching and learning that occur during her appointments are the main draws for her as a patient.
“I’m a young old person, so I enjoy being around all these young people,” Haag said. “I enjoy being there for their learning process.”
Haag has always been impressed with the student and faculty interactions, noting the students’ eagerness to learn new techniques.
At Haag’s most recent appointment, current senior dental hygiene student, Hannah Sloan, was impressed with Haag’s knowledge of the ins and outs of the school – what doors to take, what turns to make getting through the clinic, what the next step in treatment was.
“It is really cool to me that we have patients coming to the clinic for as long as Linda has because it shows how loyal they are,” Sloan said. “They care about helping us as students.”
A Grateful Neighbor
Ever since Allen Norman moved to the Longfellow neighborhood in the 1990s, he’s been committed to rebuild-ing and advancing the community as a homeowner as well as in his work rehabilitating other houses in the neighborhood. He sees the same commitment to the community at the UMKC School of Dentistry.
According to Norman, the investment UMKC – and its Health Sciences District partners – have made in the area has played a big part in preserving the Longfellow neighborhood.
“Look at the streets with crosswalks and sidewalks; look at the transportation corridors,” Norman said. “They wouldn’t be there without the Health Sciences District.”
Norman said he feels privileged to have watched the district grow in the 30 years he has lived in the area. He’s witnessed the construction of the UMKC Health Sciences Building as well as the expansion of Children’s Mercy Kansas City and University Health. He’s also an enthusiastic supporter of the new $145 million UMKC Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building.
“I’m excited about the new building,” Norman said. “It’s great to see the schools of dentistry and medicine out-grow themselves. From the federal and state governments to individual donors, there’s so much investment going into our health system.”
— ALLEN NORMAN, SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY PATIENT
Convenience brought him to the dental school for treatment, but the professionalism of the students has kept him a dedicated patient for three decades.
“People don’t understand what goes into a dental education,” Norman said. “The school isn’t just teaching students how to clean teeth – they’re teaching their students to go deeper.”
Norman recalled an appointment when he was especially grateful for the comprehensive approach of his student dentist. Norman arrived at the clinic with a tooth that was bothering him, thinking he might have to get a crown put on it. What impressed him was that the student and instructor took into account his past open-heart surgery as they assessed his case. The student found an infection in the tooth, which if left untreated could have created further cardiovascular problems. They extracted the tooth, added some bone back and sutured it up.
“They could have just slapped a crown on it and sent me on my way,” Norman said. “But they were really looking out for me that day.”
Patient Patience and Wisdom
Fourth-year dental student DJ Davis recently had Norman in his dental chair to check a couple bridges and crowns and experienced Norman’s passion for the school.
“Allen could not stop praising the school,” Davis said. “He has a very good understanding of how things work.”
Davis sees this unique knowledge in other patients as well.
“That was really cool to hear how much they understood about the school” Davis said, “and how eager they were to be a part of the process.”
When a recent patient needed a filling replaced, Davis called over his instructor Jared Gerhardt (DDS ’08) to evaluate his plan. Gerhardt recognized the patient and then realized the filling Davis was about to replace was Gerhardt’s work as a student 21 years ago.
The patient longevity also helps Davis’ confidence as a provider.
“When I see there are patients coming here for 10 or 15 years with many student dentists having served them,” Davis said, “it instills me with confidence that I, too, will be able to do this work.”
According to Davis, the one-on-one patient experience is another special connection. He calls them about appointments, and his conversations go beyond the treatment plan. One of his patients works with a food critic, so she will even offer restaurant recommendations.
“I tell my patients, ‘You are never going to bother me. I’m here for you,’” Davis said.
Sophia Dowling (DDS ’20) was another of Norman’s dental students in 2020. Now, she has her own practice in Dodge City, Kansas. But as a student, she appreciated Norman’s good humor and patience, even as they waited in line together at radiology.
“Allen and I always had great conversations,” said Dowling. “It was an honor to be his student doctor.”
When Dowling was a new clinician, she remembers the long-term patients gave her a chance to breathe and relax a little.
“There was already so much to worry and stress about, that getting to treat a patient who knew what to expect helped so much,” Dowling said. “I was able to focus more on performing the procedure instead of managing expectations of our clinic.”
Dowling is grateful for all the people who sat in her chair during her time at UMKC.
“Without them, it would be impossible to learn the great profession of dentistry,” she said.