From Data to Action: 5 Steps to Bridge North Carolina’s Dental Divide

by Ethan Chupp | May 29, 2026 | Uncategorized

In our previous post, we explored the “dental divide” currently splitting North Carolina. While the state’s total number of dentists has doubled since 2000, half of those providers are concentrated in just six urban counties. The...

Quantifying North Carolina’s Dental Workforce Shortage

by Ethan Chupp | Apr 28, 2026 | Uncategorized

This year, NCOHC is exploring different aspects of the Oral Health Workforce. In the past few months, we have explored the Old North State Dental Society’s efforts to improve and diversify the pipeline for dental schools and the role of FQHCs in addressing...

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Expand Access to Dental Care by Increasing Medicaid Reimbursement Rates

by Ethan Chupp | Apr 17, 2026 | Policy

Contact: Crystal Adams, MA CDA RDHFoundation for Health Leadership and InnovationEmail: crystal.adams@foundationhli.orgPhone: (828) 638-6719 RALEIGH, NC — A bipartisan group of North Carolina legislators will introduce a bill next week to improve access to oral health...

The Strain on North Carolina’s Dental Workforce  

by Ethan Chupp | Mar 30, 2026 | Policy, Professional Development, Uncategorized

In 2024, North Carolina expanded Medicaid to cover hundreds of thousands more residents, a major step toward improving access to care. But for patients in need of dental services, having insurance doesn’t necessarily mean being able to find a...

The Old North State Dental Society aims to expand the pool of new dentists 

by Ethan Chupp | Feb 26, 2026 | Professional Development

North Carolina is facing a critical and widespread oral health workforce shortage. 93 of our 100 counties are designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs). This shortage is driving a rise in preventable emergency room...