Oral Health in Rural Communities – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Apr 22, 2026 - The University of Washington's Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program doubled in size last year, after moving to the Gonzaga University campus and expanding Spokane-based training to the first two years of dental school. 78% of RIDE students practice in rural areas after graduation.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
Apr 17, 2026 - Researchers from Harvard have found that millions of Americans face serious barriers to dental care, and the barriers are especially severe in rural areas. Rural patients face considerably longer travel times, especially for specialty dental care.
Source: The Harvard Gazette
Mar 12, 2026 - Highlights a dentist practicing in rural Louisiana following graduation from a rural-focused track in his dental program. Describes the distribution of dentists in Louisiana, noting that 86% of Louisiana residents live in a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area.
Source: LSU Stories