A new dental clinic planned for Decatur will give UAB students and residents another place to train while expanding access to care for patients across North Alabama.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry broke ground Monday, Nov. 2, on the community clinic at Decatur Morgan Hospital’s Parkway Campus, located at 1874 Beltline Road SW.
The roughly 7,200-square-foot facility will be built in a freestanding building next to the hospital. Plans call for nine dental treatment rooms, including one designed to accommodate patients with disabilities.
The clinic is expected to provide preventive and restorative care, along with emergency services such as root canals, extractions and treatment for chipped or broken teeth. UAB faculty, residents and dental students will staff the facility, combining patient care with hands-on training.
For the university, the project is about more than adding another location for dental services. UAB hopes the clinic will help recruit, educate and retain dental professionals who can serve rural communities across the northern part of the state.
“Expanding access to care in communities such as Decatur is an important part of our mission to help optimize oral health care in Alabama,” said Nicolaas Geurs, dean of the UAB School of Dentistry. “It is no secret that there is a shortage of dental health providers in rural and moderately urban areas across our state, so it is critical that we continue finding ways to close those gaps.”
The need for additional providers is reflected in recent national workforce data. A 2025 report from the American Dental Association found that Alabama experienced a 7.8% decline in the number of dentists per 100,000 residents between 2014 and 2024. That was the largest decrease among Southern states.
The state of Alabama is funding the Decatur project, with District 3 State Sen. Arthur Orr playing a leading role in securing financial support.
Orr said the partnership between UAB and the state is intended to address a shortage that affects communities throughout Alabama.
“I’m confident this clinic will play a crucial role in delivering essential dental care to residents of Decatur and the surrounding region,” Orr said. “Our thanks go to Decatur Morgan Hospital for their willingness to host this clinic in their facilities and thereby further improve healthcare in the area.”
Inside, the facility will include wet and dry laboratories, a sterilization area, four offices and a support space for students and staff with a study area. The clinic will also have access to an adjacent lecture hall for continuing education programs and gatherings for members of the dental community.
The Decatur location will join UAB Dentistry’s clinic in Dothan as part of the university’s efforts to address dental care shortages in both the northern and southern portions of the state.
UAB did not provide a projected opening date for the Decatur clinic in its announcement.
Zachary Austin is a writer for 256 Today. You can contact him at [email protected].
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