Apple Tree Dental

Apple Tree Dental is an independent, nonprofit group dental practice based in Minnesota. Its stated mission is to overcome barriers to oral health, and it provides high-quality, comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. The organization describes itself as a community collaborative practice that combines innovative care-delivery systems with support from corporate, foundation, and community partners.

The organization traces its founding to 1985, according to its own published company background. It has grown into a statewide provider operating a network of Centers for Dental Health alongside mobile and on-site care programs. Its corporate office is located at 2201 26th Ave NW in New Brighton, Minnesota.

Apple Tree Dental serves adults, children, and families, including residents of long-term care nursing facilities, low-income patients, people with disabilities, and others with serious dental needs. It accepts most private dental insurance plans and offers Affordable Plans intended to help ensure everyone can receive care. Consistent with its mission, it also accepts patients covered by state healthcare programs.

Care is delivered through ten center locations across Minnesota and through mobile teams that serve more than 200 skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, Head Start centers, schools, and group homes around the state. Its published service lines include preventive dental care, restorative general dentistry, implants and oral surgery, sedation dentistry, special care dentistry, pediatric dentistry, older adult care, and mobile community outreach. The organization reports special expertise in pediatric, geriatric, and special-needs populations.

Apple Tree Dental also emphasizes innovation, technology, research, and community collaboration. Its materials highlight innovative dental technology used in patient care, data-driven research aimed at better health outcomes, and partnerships with long-term care facilities, schools, and higher education institutions. It operates an AEGD residency program in partnership with HealthPartners and has developed a flexible staffing model in response to dental workforce shortages.

Workforce development is a notable part of the organization’s activities. Its Career Equity Project, launched in 2022, was designed to introduce high school students from diverse backgrounds to oral health care careers, with pilot sites at Osseo High School and Kennedy Secondary School in Fergus Falls. Apple Tree also offers a Career Development Program, loan forgiveness information, and continuing education support. It was a recipient of Minnesota’s Dual Training Grant through the Office of Higher Education.

Apple Tree Dental describes a culture of teamwork and an encouraging work environment where staff learn and grow with each other. It seeks clinical and administrative team members committed to its mission, vision, and values, who are passionate about making a difference, providing high-quality comprehensive dentistry and an excellent patient experience, and who like the clinical side of dentistry more than running a dental practice. Listed benefits include competitive salary, a 401(k) plan, medical, dental, life and disability coverage, paid time off, and career advancement support with continuing education opportunities.