In 1985, Apple Tree Dental was founded to address the unmet dental needs of frail elders living in the Twin Cities, subsequently growing to become the Coon Rapids Center.
July 1995
Launch of First Sister Program
In 1995, Apple Tree helped launch Carolina's Mobile Dentistry to serve nursing facility residents in Charlotte, North Carolina, starting Apple Tree's first sister program.
July 1997
Hawley Center Established
In 1997, community leaders from the rural Red River Valley area in northwestern Minnesota asked Apple Tree to help solve one of Minnesota's worst dental access problems, resulting in the establishment of the Hawley Center.
July 1999
Second Sister Program Launched
In 1999, Apple Tree helped launched Operation Smile in Sicily Island, Louisiana to serve Head Start preschoolers and institutionalized elders on-site, becoming Apple Tree's second sister program.
2004
Madelia Center Established
In 2004, Apple Tree opened the Madelia Center in the local hospital to help meet dental access needs among a low-income Hispanic population in southwestern Minnesota.
2008
Rochester Center Established
In 2008, two geriatricians from the Mayo Clinic were desperately seeking on-site dental care for their nursing facility residents, resulting in the Rochester Center. This initially opened as an on-site/mobile care program only. It later expanded to a brick-and-mortar clinic in 2013.
2009
Fergus Falls Center Established
In 2009, Apple Tree opened the Fergus Falls Center to help provide dental services and fill longstanding gaps in the region.
2014
Mounds View Center Established
In 2014, Apple Tree opened the Mounds View Center to expand services to nearly a thousand patients on waiting lists, and to create a new source of advanced dental services for people needing IV sedation services in the Twin Cities.
2015
San Mateo Center Established
In 2015, Apple Tree opened the San Mateo Center in California, creating a dental program to meet growing gaps in the availability of geriatric and special care dentistry services in the area. This program was established through an affiliation with Sonrisas Community Dental care, which was founded in 2001.
In 2017, Apple Tree transitioned the management of the San Mateo and Sonrisas Centers to local leaders. The new organization managing these Centers is now called Sonrisas Dental Health.
2016
Little Falls Outreach Clinic Established
In 2016, Apple Tree opened the Little Falls Outreach Clinic, co-located within the Family Medical Center on the St. Gabriel's Hospital campus in Little Falls, Minnesota. This program has pioneered medical-dental care management for people with diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.
2018
Transition of Little Falls Center
In 2018, Apple Tree transitioned the Little Falls Outreach Clinic to the Little Falls Center for Dental Health, open five days a week with a full-time dentist.
2019
First Pediatric General Anesthesia Case
In 2019, Apple Tree pediatric specialist Dr. Nathaniel Cook performed Apple Tree's first in-office general anesthesia case in collaboration with a dental anesthesiologist, at the Mounds View Center for Dental Health.
In 2020, in the Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont, Apple Tree opened the Fairmont Center for Dental Health with mobile equipment. In April 2021, the Fairmont Center moved into a refurbished section of the same building and opened with a full team.
September 2020
New Fergus Falls Center Opened
In the fall of 2020, with the help of generous donors, Apple Tree opened the new-and-improved Fergus Falls Center, which was the first custom-built Center Apple Tree had opened.
2023
New Little Falls Center Opened
In the spring of 2023, Apple Tree opened the new-and-improved Little Falls Center within St. Gabriel's Hospital. The project was made possible with funding and support from various groups.
2023
Apple Tree Dental Joins Forces with ADT Dental and Ready, Set, Smile
In May 2023, the final steps to join Apple Tree Dental and ADT Dental were finished. Apple Tree also joined forces with Ready, Set, Smile, a nonprofit started by ADT Dental.
2025
St. Paul Center Opened
In early 2025, Apple Tree Dental received access to a dental practice formerly owned by Dr. Nina Thai in St. Paul. Located within the Community Action building, the new St. Paul Center provides care easily accessible by urban public transportation.
2025
Apple Tree Dental Celebrates 40 Years!
In September 2025, Apple Tree Dental's founders, supporters, partners, staff, and sponsored celebrated 40 years of access, compassion, and excellence with a day of exciting Continuing Education and a dinner at Leopold's Mississippi Gardens.
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COON RAPIDS
APPLE TREE DENTAL - COON RAPIDS
8960 Springbrook Dr #150 Coon Rapids, MN 55433 USA
