Bringing smiles across Ky.: UK Dentistry unveils fresh new look for mobile clinic
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2025) – On Sept. 18, the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry gathered at James Lane Allen Elementary to unveil the fresh new look of their mobile dental clinic. The ceremony celebrated the college’s commitment to serving schools in Fayette County and across Kentucky.
“Our mobile clinic is very important because it allows us to go to many underserved communities throughout Kentucky,” said Ron Singer, D.D.S, division chief of public health dentistry at UK’s College of Dentistry. “Having the mobile clinic allows us to provide great care without having to set up an entire clinic inside the school or community center. It’s convenient for everyone.”
UK’s College of Dentistry currently operates mobile dental clinics and a dental outreach program serving elementary school children and Head Start children in various Kentucky counties. The program celebrates 35 years of service and has received several national awards for collaboration and community engagement.
After years of service, it was time to give the mobile clinic a fresh new look.
“It's important to have a new shining coat to be recognized,” Singer said. “This is a new era. This is a new generation going forward. We are now identified as a comprehensive care program.”
Children visiting the mobile clinic can receive various forms of dental care including oral exams, fluoride varnish, cleanings and dental hygiene education. If visual decay is found, screening X-rays are taken to help define a treatment plan for these children.
“This ceremony is symbolic of the fact that UK dental students have been serving the state of Kentucky for a long time, and the type of care they provide continues to advance,” said Kenny Nusbacher, D.M.D, assistant chief medical officer for ambulatory dentistry at UK HealthCare. “The state of Kentucky has a lot of health disparities, so to know that the mobile clinic with our dental students is out in the communities helping people that need it most, is amazing. Now with the new look, the clinic will be more recognizable than ever before.”
The new look on the mobile clinic is blue and white, a clear representation of UK.
“It’s very exciting,” Singer said. “When the community sees these large UK branded buses it brings a smile to their face, you’re excited to see what’s going on.”
The goal is for the fun design to also make children feel more comfortable and less nervous to enter the clinic environment since the Wildcat colors are something they typically recognize.
“The excitement when people see anything related to UK, especially in a lot of these rural areas around the state, is amazing,” Nusbacher said. “Many of these students have never had dental care before. They can be very nervous, scared and not sure what to expect. We hope seeing the UK logo and colors can help alleviate some of their worries. Our goal is to help them to have a positive experience so that they aren’t as worried the next time they visit.”
This year the mobile clinic plans to serve hundreds of students across Kentucky.
This fall, the College of Dentistry kicks off its annual SEAL Kentucky program. In October, first-year dental students will make two trips to Greenup County to provide care at McKell Elementary School, the Greenup County School of Innovation and Greenup County High School. SEAL Kentucky is an important part of the dental public health curriculum, giving students valuable hands-on experience while serving children and families in the community.
At each two-day event, UK dental students will provide elementary students with preventive services, including dental sealants. The program will return with senior dental students to offer restorative services on the mobile dental clinic.
This year, SEAL Kentucky is expanding to include high school students in a pilot program. Nearly 100 Greenup County High School students are currently enrolled in the pilot, which will provide preventive and restorative services designed to meet their unique needs.
If your school is interested in the Seal Kentucky program or other outreach opportunities with the College of Dentistry, contact UKCD Project Manager Amber Truax at ukcdoutreach@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.