College of Dentistry SEAL KY program reaches new milestones in outreach care

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 2, 2025) — University of Kentucky College of Dentistry students are making an impact in Greenup County this fall through a coordinated series of school-based dental outreach visits.

As part of their curriculum, first-year dental students participated in SEAL KY to gain hands-on experience in community-based care and learn how public health principles apply in real-world settings. This long-standing program strengthens student training and supports the University of Kentucky’s broader goals of improving health outcomes, reducing barriers to care and developing a committed dental workforce for the Commonwealth.

In October, first-year dental students completed two separate two-day trips to Greenup County, providing preventive services — including screenings and dental sealants — to elementary and, for the first time, high school students.

Traditionally focused on younger children, SEAL KY’s expansion to high school populations strengthens preventive care efforts at a critical developmental age and extends the program’s reach within rural communities. Across the two visits, more than 150 children and adolescents received preventive care — a long-term investment in Kentucky’s oral health and whole-body health.

 “Over the years, several school superintendents and family resource staff have asked if we could include high school-aged students in our efforts,” said Amber Truax, outreach coordinator and project manager for the College of Dentistry. “After sharing that feedback with College of Dentistry leadership, they overwhelmingly agreed it was time to expand the program. As a result, for the first time in 29 years, we were able to provide preventive and restorative services to high school students during our SEAL KY trips this year.”

Following the October visits, the SEAL KY team returned to Greenup County in November to begin offering restorative services. This was another milestone in advancing oral health access for Kentucky families. Fourth-year dental students are providing restorative care inside the UK College of Dentistry’s mobile dental clinic, stationed at the Musketeer Alumni Complex at Greenup County High School.

Restorative trips will continue through April, ensuring continuity of care for approximately 100 students. The addition of restorative services helps reduce the burden of untreated dental disease, which remains a significant challenge in many Kentucky counties.

“Bringing comprehensive care directly to schools removes some of the biggest barriers families face when seeking dental treatment,” said Ron Singer, D.D.S., division chief of public health dentistry. “It also gives our students an invaluable opportunity to learn how community-based dentistry can change health outcomes across Kentucky.”

These outreach experiences are equally important for the dental students providing the care. Through SEAL KY, UK College of Dentistry students gain hands-on experience in public health dentistry while learning how community partnerships strengthen access to care. These skills will shape Kentucky’s future dental workforce as many students go on to practice in the Commonwealth. Early exposure to outreach programs encourages a lifelong commitment to serving communities in need.

“As a Kentuckian, this trip was especially meaningful to me,” said Ella Durbin, a first-year dental student. “I know how difficult it can be for many people to access health care, especially dental health care. Being able to drive a couple of hours and provide services to people who truly need them makes a real difference. You can see the impact in these students’ lives immediately,”

SEAL KY’s presence in Greenup County not only advances Kentucky’s health and workforce but also addresses critical gaps in access to care. Local dentists work hard to meet community needs, but many are at capacity or face financial constraints that make accepting Medicaid patients challenging.

By providing on-site preventive and restorative services to students from McKell Elementary, Greenup County School of Innovation and Greenup County High School, SEAL KY ensures that these children and teens who might otherwise struggle to access treatment receive timely, high-quality care.