UAB plans state-of-the-art dental clinic for Decatur

DECATUR — The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry plans to bring a satellite clinic to Decatur in 2026 to serve patients in the northern part of the state.

The Decatur clinic will recruit, educate, train and retain dentists to help improve the dental health of those living in rural north Alabama. The clinic will be housed at Decatur Morgan Hospital’s Parkway Campus at 1874 Beltline Road, pending the approval of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.

Funding for the state-funded project was spearheaded by State Sen. Arthur Orr.

“It is no secret that there is a shortage of dental health providers in rural and moderately urban locations in our state,” said Dr. Nicolaas Geurs, dean of UAB’s School of Dentistry. “It is critical that we continue to find ways to close those gaps, the way we did in Dothan earlier this year and now as we plan to do in Decatur. Our mission at the UAB School of Dentistry is to help optimize oral health care in Alabama.

“We are grateful to Gov. (Kay) Ivey, Sen. Orr and the Alabama Legislature for their support on this project and what it will mean for the people of north Alabama.”

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 care shortage. This clinic, which complements the Dothan clinic, will help further UAB’s mission of addressing the rural dentistry shortage in the state. Decatur is centrally located and accessible to residents across north Alabama.

“The collaboration between the state and UAB underscores our collective dedication to tackling the dental crisis in Alabama,” said Orr (R-Decatur). “I’m confident this clinic will play a crucial role in delivering essential dental care to residents of Decatur and the surrounding region.

“Thank you to Decatur Morgan Hospital for their willingness to host this clinic in their facilities and thereby further improve health care in the area.”

While many details on what the clinic will provide are still to be determined, the Decatur location is expected to serve a variety of dental needs, treat patients of all ages, and provide preventive care, basic periodontal therapy and restorative treatments. The clinic is also expected to offer emergency dental care for root canals, extractions, and chipped or broken teeth — all using state-of-the-art technology.

The clinic will be staffed by UAB School of Dentistry faculty, along with residents and dental students.

Neglected oral health, including gum disease, infections and tooth decay, can have broader implications for overall well-being. Poor oral health is associated with conditions including endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, pregnancy complications and even compromised nutrition due to an inability to chew properly.

“Oral health is a vital component of overall well-being and essential to the general health and quality of life across an individual’s life span,” Geurs said. “We work hard to place our patients and their families at the center of health care decisions to get the best patient care outcomes we can. We look forward to doing that in Decatur in the near future.”