From ECU News Services

 

The ECU School of Dental Medicine has opened a pediatric dentistry clinic in Ledyard E. Ross Hall on ECU’s Health Sciences Campus.

Children may receive the same high quality, affordable dental care as the school’s adult patients receive.

The new clinic is bright and cheerful and offers cutting edge procedures to help children and adolescents have a good dental care experience. Dental faculty, students, and residents offer a full range of general dentistry services. To make and appointment, call 252-737-7834.

The ECU School of Dental Medicine is the new kid on the block in dental education in North Carolina. It is shaping an entirely new educational model. All students are North Carolina residents and most are from underserved areas. Our first class of students enrolled in 2011.

Why the need for a second dental school in our state? North Carolina currently ranks 47^th in the nation in dentist-to-population ratio. Many counties have two dentists or fewer per 10,000 people. Three counties have no dentists at all. Many adults and children in our state suffer from preventable gum disease, decaying teeth and the inability to chew their food.

“If people don’t have a dentist and their needs coincide with the educational needs of our students, we’d like them to consider us as their dental home.” says Greg Chadwick, dean of the dental school. “The ideal patient for our ECU dental clinics will have a flexible schedule and be available for longer appointments than might be necessary at private offices because of our educational mission.”

In addition to clinics in Greenville, the school is building community-service learning centers across North Carolina where fourth-year dental students supervised by faculty will gain hands-on experience with patients and provide dental education to children and adults. The centers will provide much needed dental services to people in rural, underserved areas.

Centers in Ahoskie and Elizabeth City are open and bustling. Centers in Sylva, Lillington, Spruce Pine, Davidson County and Robeson County will all be operating in the next 18 months. All sites accept insurance, including Medicaid, and assist patients in filing claims.

North Carolina is at a critical moment in oral health care. The goal of the ECU School of Dental Medicine is to make a measurable impact on the health of people in the state’s rural and underserved areas.

For more information on the school’s dental-care services or to make an appointment at the ECU School of Dental Medicine clinics, call 252-737-7834.