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Arkansas’ First Dental School Set to Transform Oral Health Care Access

A New Chapter in Arkansas’ Oral Health Landscape

Arkansas is about to embark on a significant step toward improving its oral health care system. The state’s first dental school, the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, is set to open this summer with the goal of increasing access to dental care for underserved communities. The need is great, and the state’s new dental school is poised to become a key player in addressing this critical issue.

Dr. Burke Soffe, the founding dean of the dental school, is enthusiastic about the potential impact of the institution. Arkansas, despite its sizable population, has the lowest number of dentists per capita in the nation, with just 41.24 dentists per 100,000 residents as of 2023. This shortage has made it especially difficult for residents in rural areas to access the care they need. Dr. Soffe believes that the new school will not only train more local dentists but also ensure they stay in-state to serve in the areas where they’re most needed.

A Lifeline for Rural Communities

In a state where rural areas often struggle to attract medical professionals, the creation of a dental school offers a much-needed solution. Many Arkansas residents currently face long wait times and travel distances to see a dentist. It’s a serious problem, particularly given that good oral health is crucial to overall well-being.

Arkansas dental school opening

According to Kerry Krell, the statewide program supervisor for the Arkansas Department of Health’s Office of Oral Health, there is a pressing need to address the state’s dental provider shortage. “Our state has several dental provider shortage areas,” Krell says. “It is our hope that an Arkansas-based dental school will recruit local students and train dentists who want to work in those higher-need areas.”

The school’s mission is to cultivate homegrown talent that will serve in these underserved regions, providing better access to essential care for Arkansans. By training local students who are familiar with the state’s needs and communities, the dental school hopes to keep graduates in Arkansas, ultimately improving the state’s dentist-to-population ratio.

The Lyon College Approach: Faster and More Affordable Education

Lyon College, the private liberal arts school based in Batesville, Arkansas, is moving full steam ahead with plans for the dental school. Although it’s still navigating the accreditation process, the college anticipates enrolling its first class of 80 students in June 2025. The school is introducing a novel, year-round, three-year program designed to streamline the path to becoming a dentist.

While most dental schools offer traditional four-year programs, Lyon College’s accelerated program is built to be more cost-effective and efficient. Students will complete their studies in three years, cutting down on both tuition costs and the time it takes to enter the workforce.

Dr. Soffe explains the logic behind the shortened program: “Unless dentists have really made a killing, they’re not taking summers off and they’re not taking really long breaks, because who’s taking care of their patients?” The goal is to better prepare students for the realities of their profession while allowing them to start practicing sooner.

For students, this means fewer years of tuition fees and less debt—something that can often be a barrier to entering the field. With the promise of a quicker and more affordable education, the Lyon College dental school is hoping to attract a diverse pool of students, including those who might otherwise have been deterred by the financial burden of dental school.

Addressing the State’s Deep Oral Health Challenges

The state’s oral health challenges have been well-documented. With one of the lowest dentist-to-patient ratios in the nation, Arkansans face significant barriers when it comes to oral care. Rural communities, in particular, are disproportionately affected, with many residents needing to travel long distances just to see a dentist.

The Lyon College dental school represents a long-overdue opportunity to address this disparity. By providing local training and creating pathways for dentists to stay in Arkansas, the program aims to create a lasting impact on the state’s oral health system.

  • Arkansas’ oral health issues include:
    • A shortage of dental care providers
    • Rural areas with limited access to dental services
    • Low dentist-to-population ratio

Ultimately, the new dental school hopes to combat these challenges by providing better access to care for all populations across the state.

The Long-Term Impact on Arkansas’ Health

As the dental school begins to enroll students and train new dentists, the hope is that the school’s graduates will have a lasting, positive effect on the state’s oral health. By addressing the systemic issues surrounding dental care in Arkansas, the school could help reduce disparities in health outcomes, improve the quality of life for residents, and make Arkansas a healthier state overall.

Dr. Soffe is optimistic that the new dental school will spark significant changes in the state’s oral health landscape. “This is a generational opportunity to improve oral health in Arkansas,” he says. And with the state’s first dental school opening its doors in just a few months, the future of Arkansas’ oral health care system looks brighter than ever before.

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