Heartland Community Health Center will partner with Douglas County Dental Clinic to expand integrated oral health care services, thanks to a $350,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The grant will allow Heartland to bring a satellite clinic of dental services under its roof, according to a press release from the center. It will enable the center to increase the number of patients served with oral health care services in Lawrence and Douglas County.

“Both organizations strongly believe these funds will serve to help alleviate an enormous need by offering affordable dental care in our community,” said Julie Branstrom, Douglas County Dental Clinic executive director, in the release.

Heartland was one of six health centers in the state of Kansas to receive a grant. A total of $2.2 million was distributed throughout the state, and $156 million was dispersed to 420 health centers in 47 states, according to the HHS.

The HHS says oral health problems can be a sign of illness elsewhere in the body, and lack of access to routine and preventive care for underserved populations can result in conditions that require more costly emergency treatments.