UAB School of Dentistry holds ribbon-cutting for first-of-its-kind clinic in Dothan

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry celebrated the opening of UAB Dentistry Dothan with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 26. UAB Dentistry Dothan is a first-of-its-kind satellite dentistry clinic designed to recruit, educate, train and retain dentists to help improve the dental health of those living in Alabama’s Wiregrass region.

The project is supported by a $3.4 million appropriation from the state of Alabama to develop this model to address the shortage of dental health providers in rural Alabama. The clinic will help prepare the next generation of dentists committed to practicing in rural Alabama.

“We are grateful for our state and local leaders and generous supporters who have played such a vital role in helping this clinic come to fruition,” said Nicolaas Geurs, DDS, interim dean of the UAB School of Dentistry. “Our mission at the UAB School of Dentistry is to help optimize oral health care across Alabama. We know that our state is facing a rural dentistry shortage, and we are looking forward to alleviating some of the burden of that shortage through this new clinic.”

The clinic has eight exam chairs and is staffed by UAB School of Dentistry faculty. It features state-of-the-art technology, including a revolutionary product that utilizes 3D imaging technology to capture high-resolution digital impressions of patients’ teeth and panoramic radiography that captures the entire mouth in a single image.

The clinic will serve a variety of dental needs; treat patients of all ages; and provide preventive care, restorative treatments and cosmetic services. The clinic will offer emergency dental care for issues such as root canals, extractions, TMJ, and chipped or broken teeth. In the future, the clinic will be staffed by residents and dental students as they train and prepare to practice dentistry in rural areas.

“We are excited to provide the same world-class dental care and clinical training that is available at UAB School of Dentistry to the residents in the Wiregrass area,” said Nancy Hein Covert, DMD, clinic director of UAB Dentistry Dothan. “This clinic allows us to provide a variety of comprehensive dental services to those in this area, alongside vital training to our students as we teach them how to provide quality, dependable oral health care in a rural community.”

Sandy Lumbatis was among the first patients treated at the clinic. Lumbatis drove 35 minutes from her home in Henry County, Alabama, for care.

“There are lots of rural areas surrounding the city of Dothan, and many people drive into Dothan to receive their care,” Lumbatis said. “To see something like this come to Dothan is very exciting and is very beneficial to the members of this community. We had a great experience at the clinic. The facility is amazing, and the equipment is state-of-the-art.”

The American Dental Association ranks Alabama 51st in the country for access to dental care, with 71 percent of Alabama’s counties experiencing a dental shortage. In Dothan, there are approximately 60 general dentists for nearly 500,000 people within a 50-mile radius.

“This partnership between the state and UAB shows the commitment to addressing the dental crisis in rural Alabama,” said Alabama state Senator Donnie Chesteen, who was instrumental in helping secure the state’s financial support of the project. “Dothan has 1.4 dentists for every 10,000 people, while the national average is 6.1. This new clinic is providing critical dental services to this region of the state.”

The celebration of the new clinic was held in the lobby of the clinic space located in the Health Center South Medical Tower in Dothan, Alabama. Representatives from the University of Alabama System Office, UAB, the Alabama Legislature, UAB School of Dentistry alumni and others from the Dothan community were in attendance to celebrate the new space.

Health Center South, owned and operated by Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., and the Heersink family, already serves the health care needs of the Wiregrass area. The Medical Tower was selected due to a variety of factors, including location, existing health care infrastructure and ability to meet the requirements of a dentistry clinic.

“It is with immense pride and gratitude that the Wiregrass community gathered today for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the UAB School of Dentistry right here in Dothan, Alabama,” Heersink said. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to various stakeholders, including the leadership from the Governor’s Office, our legislators and the University of Alabama at Birmingham within the University of Alabama System. The bonds forged with UAB have grown significantly in the Wiregrass region and have become a cornerstone in providing essential dental education, care and outreach to our neighboring communities. We express our sincere gratitude to President Dr. Watts and his dedicated team for their support in making this become a reality.”

UAB Dentistry Dothan is currently accepting new patients. Patients should call 334-305-3290 to make an appointment.