Georgia, Arkansas and Florida are among several states that will gain a dental school in the near future.
Several dental schools have been announced in recent years to alleviate workforce shortages and train professionals to work in underserved communities.
Here are nine upcoming dental schools to know:
1. In December 2022, Boca Raton-based Florida Atlantic University announced its plans to open a dental school by 2025. However, the university has hit snags in recent months related to leadership appointments and finances that could prevent the school from opening. Kim Dunn, president of the university's Faculty Senate committee, said in October that the committee is worried about financing the new school and is concerned about the school's "viability."
2. Rootstown-based Northeast Ohio Medical University was approved for a dental school in September 2022, which would be the third in the state. A $10 million donation toward the new school was given by Gary Bitonte, MD, and David Bitonte, DO, in October 2022. It also received $2 million in funding in January 2023 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which will go toward equipment and construction. The school plans to welcome its first class in 2025.
3. Batesville, Ark.-based Lyon College plans to open Arkansas' first dental school in 2025. The college was approved to offer a doctor of medical dentistry by the Higher Learning Commission Institutional Actions Council in November 2022. Recently, the college's property deal to build the dental school at the Heifer International complex in Little Rock fell through, so it is exploring other location options.
4. The University of Pikeville (Ky.) was given $25 million to establish a dental school in May 2022 to increase access to dental services in the Appalachian region. Jill Keaton, DMD, recently replaced Pamela Sparks-Stein, DMD, as dean. The school is expected to accept its first class in 2025.
6. Lake Worth, Fla.-based Palm Beach State College broke ground in May on a building on its Loxahatchee Groves campus that will house its dental program. The 83,500-square-foot building will include a fully equipped dental clinic and technology for dental assisting and hygiene students. The building is set to be completed by February 2025 with classes beginning in the fall.
7. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Wash., plans to accept its first class of students to its upcoming dental school in the fall of 2025. The school will train dentists for rural and underserved communities. The university received a $12 million grant from Delta Dental of Washington for the dental school in October, shortly after it began construction.
8. High Point University broke ground on the dental school in September 2023 after receiving accreditation in August. It will be the third dental school in the state and the first among private schools. The school is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2024. Muhammad Ali Shazib, DMD, was appointed dean in December.
9. Statesboro-based Georgia Southern University was granted $178 million in state funding to build a dental school in February. Gov. Kemp had previously proposed giving the university funding for a dental school to alleviate the state's healthcare workforce shortages.