Karis Dental Clinic

Mission: To follow the example of Jesus Christ by serving others through the provision of quality dental care to low-income adults in the community.

In 2011, The Caring Place and the United Way conducted a survey to determine the most prominent needs in Bradley County. The survey concluded that adult dental care was the most lacking in the community. A task force was formed and Dr. James Ohlsson, who was in private dental practice, was approached about addressing this need. He began volunteering at monthly extraction clinics coordinated by his wife Kelly, and the need for a full-time clinic quickly became apparent. In 2015, Karis Dental opened their doors full-time in downtown Cleveland, offering restorative, life-changing dentistry. Karis Dental has provided over $8 million in dental services since opening.

Over the years, Kelly and Dr. Ohlsson noticed that numerous dental patients had underlying health conditions that were untreated due to a lack of medical insurance and financial resources. At the same time, Dr. Madison Torrence was working in the Emergency Room at Tennova, but his heart began to turn towards those who are underserved in our community. His passion for this population, along with Karis’ vision to expand services, resulted in a partnership to address access to affordable medical care. Karis Dental changed names to Karis Community Health, and after much perseverance and collaboration,  Karis Medical opened their doors in 2021, right next door to Karis Dental. Karis Medical provides primary care services which focuses on chronic disease management and health education.

Karis Dental offers high-quality dental care in a compassionate, non-judgmental atmosphere.

We know many issues arise in life that can affect health and postpone dental treatment. We want our patients to feel comfortable and empowered to care for their teeth, so we focus on pain relief, oral health education, and restoring smiles. We do this in a clean, friendly, and professional office, utilizing the skills of experienced and compassionate staff.