{"id":13422,"date":"2026-02-20T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mobile-nonprofit-delivers-dental-care-to-underserved-communities\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:36:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:36:28","slug":"mobile-nonprofit-delivers-dental-care-to-underserved-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mobile-nonprofit-delivers-dental-care-to-underserved-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile nonprofit delivers dental care to underserved communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Courtney
Courtney Justice, a dental hygienist and owner of the nonprofit Painted Sky Dental, works with Roy, who did not want to give his last name, during an exam last week at Manna soup kitchen. Justice travels around Southwest Colorado providing dental services out of her van. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Dental care in Southwest Colorado is hitting the road.<\/p>\n

Dental hygienist Courtney Justice founded Painted Sky Dental in October \u2013 a nonprofit mobile dental service that operates out of a 2019 Ram ProMaster van \u2013 to serve communities lacking access to essential dental care.<\/p>\n

As of mid-February, the mobile clinic had served nearly 100 patients, Justice said.<\/p>\n

Data<\/a> from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative show cost and lack of access are the main barriers to seeking dental care, despite respondents understanding the importance of oral health.<\/p>\n

As of 2023, less than half of Coloradans were able to access the dental care they needed, according to reporting by KUNC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The van has already had a noticeable impact in Durango, Justice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear, \u2018I haven\u2019t been to a dentist in years,\u2019 so many times, and I\u2019m so grateful that we get to be the first point of contact in a very long time that (patients) see,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 I thought this service was needed, and I\u2019m glad that it\u2019s coming to fruition \u2013 that that was actually what was needed, and that people are getting access to care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Courtney
Courtney Justice, a dental hygienist and owner of the nonprofit Painted Sky Dental, works with Roy, who did not want to give his last name, during an exam last week at Manna soup kitchen. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

As a licensed dental hygienist, Justice is able to operate the van in Colorado as a private practice, with appropriate insurance in place, she said.<\/p>\n

Justice has brought the van \u2013 which she named Ramona \u2013 to locations across Southwest Colorado, including senior centers in Durango and Pagosa Springs, the San Juan Public Health Department in Silverton, and several Ignacio and Durango schools.<\/p>\n

Justice said she next hopes to take the van to Fort Lewis College.<\/p>\n

The van also makes regular trips to Manna soup kitchen every second and third Tuesday of the month to serve unhoused and economically disadvantaged residents.<\/p>\n

Justice, an adjunct professor at San Juan College, works with the school to provide on-the-ground \u2013 or, rather, on-wheels \u2013 learning experiences for dental students.<\/p>\n

Students Layla Denny and Sujey Mendoza-Delgado worked under Justice\u2019s watchful eye last week at Manna.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if we do get out of school and work at a dental clinic, this isn\u2019t the population that we would (typically) be serving,\u201d Mendoza-Delgado said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a really great learning experience, and it\u2019s great to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The van includes all the tools and resources needed for basic cleanings, exams and X-rays, and follows all Occupational Safety and Health Administration<\/a> guidelines and regulations, Justice said.<\/p>\n

The 460-cubic-foot interior of the van boasts a full-size dental chair, an Aseptico GO Ultra Portable Dental System, an intraoral camera, an aerosol-removing fan, a handheld X-ray machine and shelves stocked with dental supplies.<\/p>\n

All tools and equipment are cleaned and sterilized between uses and at the end of the day, as they would be in a traditional dental office, Justice said.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Painted Sky Dental van made a stop Tuesday at Manna soup kitchen examining and cleaning clients\u2019 teeth. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Medicaid, Delta Dental, Cigna or United insurance and cash are all accepted forms of payment, and fees are based on Medicaid reimbursement rates, making services accessible to patients.<\/p>\n

An adult without insurance visiting the van can expect to pay $82 for a basic cleaning. For children under 12, that cost decreases to $62.<\/p>\n

Additional costs apply for X-rays, fluoride treatments and other services.<\/p>\n

Manna client and Medicaid recipient Roy, who asked that his last name not be used, had his first dental appointment with Painted Sky Dental last week at Manna.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very excellent that we have it,\u201d he said of the mobile dental service. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool. Like, people that wouldn\u2019t ordinarily get help (come here). \u2026 Tooth pain can be the worst pain in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Courtney
Courtney Justice is a dental hygienist and owner of the nonprofit Painted Sky Dental. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Justice said the feedback she has received from patients so far has been deeply meaningful.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first ever patient I had here at Manna in the van, I told him he was my first ever patient, and he looked around, and he was like, \u201cI\u2019m very proud,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I held it together until he got out of the van, and then I just dissolved (and cried). This (program) is my heart \u2013 so for someone to say that they were proud of it was so, so cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Donations and information<\/h4>\n

Painted Sky Dental is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations directly support access to essential oral health care services for residents of Southwest Colorado. To donate, visit www.paintedskydental.com\/donate<\/a>.For more information about pricing, services and more, call 426-0062, email courtney@paintedskydental.com<\/a> or visit www.paintedskydental.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Some dental services \u2013 such as fillings, gum disease treatment and tooth extractions \u2013 cannot be performed in the van, Justice said.<\/p>\n

When dental needs exceed the services she can provide, she refers patients to nearby Medicaid-accepting providers \u2013 like Axis Health \u2013 and assists them in scheduling appointments.<\/p>\n

Manna Director Marissa Hunt said the dental van is a valuable addition to the list of essential resources Manna supplies to the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to offer expansive services here is really critical \u2013 our whole goal is to be able to provide more services in one location,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 Being able to have on-site dental clinicians is so unique, and so valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cost to launch and stock the van was about $60,000, Justice said \u2013 but donations from dental hygienists who supported the initiative reduced her out-of-pocket cost to about $5,000, she said.<\/p>\n

Painted Sky Dental is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit \u2013 meaning donations are the primary funding force keeping the operation running.<\/p>\n

\"Courtney
Courtney Justice, center, a dental hygienist and owner of the nonprofit Painted Sky Dental, talks with San Juan College dental hygiene students, Layla Denny, left, and Sujey Mendoza-Delgado while waiting for the next patient in the van last week at Manna soup kitchen. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Every aspect of the dental van reflects a labor of love and a commitment to the community, Justice said.<\/p>\n

\"Courtney
Courtney Justice, a dental hygienist and owner of the nonprofit Painted Sky Dental, works with Roy, who did not want to give his last name, during an exam last week at Manna soup kitchen. Justice travels around Southwest Colorado providing dental services out of her van. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The ceiling of the ProMaster is painted to resemble a Colorado sky, created by Durango artist Laurie Callum, and the nonprofit\u2019s logo \u2013 a tooth with a heart inside \u2013 matches a tattoo Justice got the day she passed her dental hygienist exams.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart and soul (are) in this van,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Justice said providers understand that services such as dental care can be out of reach for many Americans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been working actively to try and make it so dental care is not as much of a luxury item,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 I want folks to know that I\u2019m here to make it as affordable as possible \u2026 and that we\u2019re a safe space, and that it\u2019s an honor to take care of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

epond@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"A
A graphic design on the side of the Painted Sky Dental van during a stop last week at Manna soup kitchen. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2018My heart and soul (are) in this van,\u2019 founder says<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13423,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[28,1141,611,1094,1269,994],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-13422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-headlines","tag-healthcare-provider","tag-homelessness","tag-insurance","tag-nonprofits","tag-trueanthem"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13422"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18968,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13422\/revisions\/18968"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13422"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=13422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}