Delta Dental Partners With SC Dental School to Expand Care

More than 1.7 million South Carolinians live in federally designated dental professional shortage areas, ranking among the highest populations impacted in the nation.

To help address this challenge, Delta Dental of South Carolina is partnering with the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine located at the Medical University of South Carolina through its new Partnering for Access to Care and Training (PACT) pilot program. The initiative will expand access to dental care for underserved patients while helping educate the next generation of oral health professionals. 

Delta Dental of South Carolina awarded a $25,000 grant to the state’s dental school to support student-delivered care and help offset unreimbursed services for uninsured and underinsured patients. PACT also provides students with opportunities to connect with industry leaders through lunch-and-learn sessions, clinical showcases and discussions focused on patient outcomes and career pathways into community-based care.

"The dental workforce shortage continues to create barriers to care for families statewide," said Stacy Harris, executive director of community impact for Delta Dental of South Carolina. "Through the PACT program, we're helping more patients receive essential dental services while giving future dentists valuable hands-on experience serving those with the greatest oral health needs. It's an investment in both immediate access to care and the long-term strength of South Carolina’s oral health workforce."

PACT is part of Delta Dental of South Carolina’s broader investment in South Carolina’s oral health workforce. Since 2023, the organization has invested more than $525,000 to support future oral health professionals and improve access to care across the state.