Decatur to become home of new UAB Dentistry clinic serving north Alabama

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry has officially broken ground on a new UAB Dentistry community clinic in Decatur, Alabama. This facility will recruit, educate, train and retain dentists to help improve the dental health of those living in rural north Alabama.

To be housed at Decatur Morgan Hospital’s Parkway Campus located at 1874 Beltline Road SW, the clinic sits at approximately 7,200 square feet and will be in a freestanding building adjacent to the hospital. With ample parking and a ground-level entrance for easy access, the space will contain nine operatories, including one set up for ADA accessibility and special needs.

Staffed by UAB School of Dentistry faculty, residents and dental students, the clinic will feature a wet lab, dry lab, sterilization area, four offices, a student and staff support area with a study zone, and access to an adjacent lecture hall for continuing education programs and gatherings for the dental community.

“Expanding access to care in communities such as Decatur is an important part of our mission to help optimize oral health care in Alabama,” said Nicolaas Geurs, DDS, dean of the UAB School of Dentistry. “It is no secret that there is a shortage of dental health providers in rural and moderately urban areas across our state, so it is critical that we continue finding ways to close those gaps.”

Funding for the project is provided by the state of Alabama, spearheaded by District 3 state Senator Arthur Orr.

“We are grateful to Governor Ivey, Sen. Orr and the Alabama Legislature for their support of this project and what it will mean for the people of north Alabama,” Geurs said.

In 2025, the American Dental Association reported a 7.8 percent decrease in Alabama’s dental workforce between 2014 and 2024 per 100,000 population, the most significant decrease in the South at the time.

Alongside the UAB Dentistry Dothan clinic, the new Decatur clinic will advance UAB’s mission to address rural dental care shortages by now expanding access to care in communities across both north and south Alabama.

“The collaboration between the state and UAB underscores our collective dedication to tackling the dental crisis in Alabama,” said Orr, who was instrumental in helping secure the state’s financial support for the project. “I’m confident this clinic will play a crucial role in delivering essential dental care to residents of Decatur and the surrounding region. Our thanks go to Decatur Morgan Hospital for their willingness to host this clinic in their facilities and thereby further improve healthcare in the area.”

Using state-of-the-art technology, the clinic is expected to offer emergency dental care, including root canals, extractions, and treatment for chipped or broken teeth.

Neglected oral health, including gum disease, infections and tooth decay, can have broader implications for overall well-being. Poor oral health is associated with conditions including endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, pregnancy complications and even compromised nutrition due to an inability to chew properly.

“Oral health is a vital component of overall well-being and essential to the general health and quality of life across an individual’s life span,” Geurs said. “We work hard to place our patients and their families at the center of healthcare decisions to get the best patient care outcomes we can. We look forward to doing that in Decatur in the near future.”