A new dental clinic in Kingsport, Tenn., could lead to a dental school to increase dental care access in the state, WJHL reported Oct. 18.
Seven things to know:
1. The Appalachian Highlands Dental Clinic will open through a collaboration between the city of Kingsport, the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, East Tennessee State University in Johnson City and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Ballad Health.
2. The clinic will welcome dental students from East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee to provide services.
3. The clinic could begin welcoming patients in 2024.
4. Kingsport City Manager Chris McCartt said the clinic could become a four-year dental educational program or a full dental school.
5. James Ragain, DDS, PhD, professor and dean of the UT College of Dentistry in Memphis, said there is a focus to increase dental care access in the state, particularly in rural communities.
6. Tennessee has three dental schools, according to the American Dental Association.
7. The state ranks 45th nationally for the number of dentists per capita and has a shortage of 800 dentists.