A new dental college at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) will open its doors on August 22, aiming to tackle Ohio’s oral health crisis by placing students in the communities that need care most.
The Bitonte College of Dentistry, led by founding dean Dr. Sorin Teich, will welcome an inaugural class of 52 students. The program’s mission is to train competent practitioners while addressing significant gaps in care, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas of northeastern Ohio.
“We are very focused on educating these students to become competent practitioners who will address at least some of the acute needs in the state,” Teich said. “We are constantly keeping in mind the issue of access to care.”
A Hands-On Approach to Dental Training
NEOMED’s model prioritizes practical, community-based experience. Students will spend their first two years learning in on-campus clinics and simulation labs. In their third and fourth years, they will rotate through external partner sites, treating patients under faculty supervision.
This approach responds to a pressing reality: many Ohio families face barriers to dental care, leading to preventable problems and frequent emergency room visits.
“Oral health issues are probably the first reason that people go to the ER if they have acute pain,” Teich explained. “If we can even have a small impact on that, it will speak volumes about what we’re doing here.”
Connecting Care and Community
The curriculum is designed not only to build clinical skills but also to help students understand how community conditions influence health. Students will work with patients from local neighborhoods, focusing on both treatment and preventive care.
“We will bring people from the community — patients — into our clinics to provide treatments and, even more importantly, preventive dentistry and education about how to stay healthy,” Teich said.
The dental college has been in development for more than four years, supported by a mix of public and private partners. The Delta Dental Foundation funded NEOMED’s new simulation lab, while state legislators, the Ohio Dental Association, and the Ohio Dental Board provided additional support.
Closing the Care Gap
Teich believes NEOMED’s community-focused model could serve as a template for other dental schools seeking to reduce care shortages.
“There’s a great need for oral health care. If we can show future dentists what it means to serve — and give them the tools to do it — we can make a lasting difference,” he said.
The program also aims to encourage graduates to remain in Ohio and serve local populations. “Access to care is one [priority], but so is creating opportunities for in-state students to stay in Ohio and serve its constituents,” Teich said.
A New Chapter for Oral Health in Ohio
Through hands-on training, strong partnerships, and a focus on service, NEOMED’s Bitonte College of Dentistry hopes to shape a generation of dentists prepared to address the state’s most urgent oral health needs.
“When it’s a community, it’s not only patients — it’s also the professional community that is embracing us,” Teich said. “The dental board, the dental association, Delta Dental — they’ve all been supportive because they recognize how important this is.”
