Bridging the Divide: A Call for Better Rural Oral Health Access

As the Director of the University of Washington School of Dentistry's Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) Program, I stand at the crossroads of a pressing healthcare challenge: the oral health disparity between urban and rural communities. Despite advancements in dentistry, smaller towns and rural areas continue to face persistent barriers to oral healthcare access.  

Oral health is paramount to overall well-being, yet a significant number of Americans in rural communities struggle to access quality dental care. The shortage of dentists in these regions isn't just a statistic; it translates into tangible consequences for families grappling with limited options for preventive care and treatment.  

Rural dentists often encounter a higher proportion of patients in need of extensive procedures like root canals and extractions due to the lack of consistent, convenient, and accessible care. Hence, it is crucial for small-town dentists to be exceptionally prepared and equipped to address a range of dental health emergencies, preventing negative health outcomes associated with inconsistent care.  

The RIDE Program at the University of Washington School of Dentistry acknowledges the urgency to confront this challenge head-on. We believe that closing the oral health gap requires training and deploying a new generation of dentists committed to serving in smaller towns and rural areas. By cultivating dental professionals who understand the unique challenges faced by these communities, we can break down barriers and ensure residents receive the care they deserve.  

Placing well-trained dentists in rural areas goes beyond immediate improvements in oral health outcomes. It creates a ripple effect on overall health, educational attainment, and economic well-being. Untreated dental issues can lead to severe health problems, impacting productivity and diminishing quality of life. Investing in rural oral health access is an investment in the long-term vitality of our rural communities.  

Yet, the path to equitable oral health access in rural America is not without challenges. We must address the realities of a dental education model that often disincentivizes highly trained individuals from practicing in rural areas. The current concentration of top-rated dental school programs in urban areas perpetuates this imbalance, making it difficult for new dentists to uproot their lives and establish practices in rural communities.  

Practicing dentistry in a small town requires a unique skill set – dentists become not just healthcare providers but also educational resources, community leaders, and empathetic partners in health. To achieve this, our education system must adapt to produce dentists who are not only clinically skilled but also culturally competent and socially aware. The RIDE Program pioneers a curriculum that immerses students in the challenges faced by rural populations, preparing them to be compassionate and effective healthcare providers.  

As part of our four-year program, RIDE students start their training at the Seattle campus before quickly transitioning to pre-clinical and didactic classes at our partner facility at Eastern Washington University in Spokane. During this first year, RIDE students benefit from rural health leadership training, interprofessional experiences, and small-group learning on a campus that is in close proximity to rural and underserved communities in Eastern Washington. After a short hands-on dental rotation at an affiliated rural and/or underserved health center in Central or Eastern Washington, RIDE students return to UW Seattle to receive their specialty and clinical training. They then complete their education on an extended clinical rotation, ideally returning to the same health center in Central or Eastern Washington to provide comprehensive dental care. The increased time spent on clinical rotation allows for RIDE students to become more immersed in the community and familiar with the patient population they are treating, fostering a deep relationship with, and understanding of these communities.  

Since 2009, RIDE dental students have provided over 55,000 hours of patient care in rural Washington and 81% of all RIDE DDS graduates currently in practice are working in rural/underserved communities. 

The call for better rural oral health access is a rallying cry for a more just and inclusive healthcare system. The University of Washington School of Dentistry's commitment to the Regional Initiatives in Dental Education Program reflects our belief that every Washingtonian, regardless of their zip code, deserves access to quality oral healthcare. It's time for all stakeholders to unite in the pursuit of a healthier, more equitable future for our rural communities. The divide may be vast, but our collective determination can bridge it, one smile at a time.