Appalachian Rural Dental Education Program

The proposal continues implementation of a rural dental education partnership to address oral health needs of the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky are currently in the initial year of implementation of the Appalachian Rural Dental Education Partnership (ARDEP). The long-range goals of ARDEP are: 1. To increase opportunities for Kentuckians from the Appalachian counties to pursue dental education and practice as a career choice. 2. To improve the numbers and distribution of dentists practicing in Kentucky’s Appalachian counties. 3. To improve oral health literacy and demand for care. 4. To develop financially sound oral health models to benefit the economic base of and societal improvements in Appalachia.