ECU School of Dentistry aims to curb dentist shortage early

NC North Carolina continues to lag behind others states in the number of dentists per person

By: Arthur Mondale | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: October 19, 2009

North Carolina continues to lag behind others states in the number of dentists per person.
ECU’s School of Dentistry will open in the Fall of 2011 but some dental students will be going into the community sooner than planned.
On Monday, ECU officially announced where they are going to build three of 10 Community Dental Centers. So dental students can get their feet wet early, and help underserved counties with a severe need.
"Too many people take dental care for granted, but they don't when they have trouble getting it,” said ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard.
The university announced dental school students will be put in practical situations in the field. The school plans to open the first two in Ahoskie and Elizabeth City in spring 2011.
"Folks in the rural areas have to travel a good hour or more to get access to dental care--and access to indigent or sliding fee scale dentistry is non-existent,” said Kin Schwarz of Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center.
Chancellor Ballard adds, “There are several counties in the west that have big needs, but most of the eastern counties that don't have a city the size of Wilson or Raleigh have real problems."
The NC General Assembly has already approved $90 million for ECU’s School of Dentistry and all 10 dental centers.
Another $15 million will go toward faculty and operation costs for the first three years. But demand isn't waiting for construction, that's why ECU is partnering with other colleges.
"Many other dental schools want to do something like this,” said ECU School of Dentistry Dean Dr. James Hupp. “They just don't have a place to send their dental students so some of them will have some of their students come to our site early on so we can start to fully utilize them."

ECU is still in the process of finding locations for the seven other Community Dental Centers.
Selection is based on population access as well as economic environment.