DECATUR, Ala. — Having high-quality healthcare is a concern for most people. But did you know the dentistry is one of the main areas of concern when it comes to health care, especially here in Alabama? One organization is helping to alleviate some of that strain.
Alabama State Senator Author Orr said Alabama is 51st in dental care across the country, even after Washington D.C. That's why UAB is partnering with Decatur-Morgan Hospital to address Alabama's dental crisis with a Decatur clinic expected to serve a variety of dental needs, as well as recruit and train dentists to serve residents in rural areas of North Alabama. "We'll see this coming online in 2026. This will be a service offered to those who don't have a family dentist and who aren't receiving normal dental care. the costs will be greatly reduced and there'll be some low cost providing for those who can't afford it."
Decatur Community Free Clinic Executive Director Jessica Payne says working in her profession, she can see that there is truly a gap in dental services. "Even people who have Medicaid, dental services are not included in regular Medicaid for people. So this is going to be a huge help to even those that have some insurance. They may not have dental insurance."
One resource Payne share is Calhoun Community College's Dental Hygiene Clinic. "That is a great source for us to refer our people there. the community free clinic here at our clinic, we do extractions and fillings primarily and a dental exam. But for all of the other, for all the other procedures, we just don't have that many resources to refer people."