KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WCYB) — The Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands is preparing for a major expansion as it continues to serve a growing number of patients in need of affordable dental care. Since opening, the clinic has become a vital resource for community members who cannot afford treatment.
“This is care that’s been delayed for years,” said Clinic Director John Royal. “We’re seeing the impact of population growth in Tennessee and a shortage of professional dental providers.”
Royal said the clinic has provided more than $400,000 in dental services and treated over 800 patients. He credits this success as the driving force behind the expansion plan, which includes growing partnerships with Northeast State Community College, East Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee.
One key initiative is launching a postgraduate program to bring in licensed dentists who have already completed their degrees. “As we grow, we’ll be starting a postgraduate program,” Royal said. “These will be dentists who are fully licensed and ready to practice at a higher level than dental students.”
Currently, the clinic operates with 12 dental chairs. Plans are underway to expand that number to over 30, allowing for significantly greater patient capacity.
In addition to patient care, the clinic serves as a training ground. So far, 37 dental students have gained hands-on experience by working with patients in the Kingsport community.
Retention Through Rural Training
Allen Stanton, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, said that training future dentists in communities like Kingsport increases the chances they’ll remain in the area long term.
“When you train students in a rural area or a community like Kingsport, you are more likely to have the student stay in the community,” Stanton explained.
By July 2026, Stanton hopes to launch a full dental residency program in Kingsport, eventually supporting up to six dental residents.
“In the next three or four years, we hope to have several of our students living in Kingsport full-time and completing their education here,” he said.
Addressing TennCare Gaps
Stanton also emphasized the clinic’s unique role in serving vulnerable populations, particularly adults covered under TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program.
“A lot of dentists don’t accept adult TennCare,” he said. “There simply aren’t enough providers, and those who are here often don’t have the capacity to treat our most vulnerable patients.”
With its expansion plans, the Kingsport Dental Clinic aims to fill that gap, ensuring access to quality dental care remains available to those who need it most.