University of Pikeville’s Tanner College of Dental Medicine receives grant for pediatric dentistry accessibility

The University of Pikeville’s Tanner College of Dental Medicine has received a $30,000 grant from the National Association of Dental Plans in an effort to improve access to pediatric dental care in Central Appalachia. The grant will allow the university to research what keeps kids with dental insurance coverage from receiving dental care, and will also provide the university with the ability to research and pilot teledentistry as a means of creating greater access to pediatric dental care in the region.

According to an article on the University of Pikeville’s website, Jill Keaton, DMD, MS, DABOP, FAAOP, who serves as the dean of the Tanner College of Dental Medicine, was quoted as saying of the grant funding, “This grant allows us to take a meaningful step toward addressing long-standing pediatric oral health disparities in Central Appalachia. By combining rigorous research with real-world teledentistry applications, we can better understand why access gaps persist and, more importantly, develop solutions that meet children and families where they are.”

The Tanner College of Dental Medicine will welcome its first class of students in June 2026. As part of this grant initiative, this initial cohort of students will have the opportunity to participate in the research project. They will gain experience with community-based dental public health, data collection, and teledentistry technology. 

As part of the grant-funded project, parents and caregivers in the region will take a survey, and community focus groups and a dental claims analysis will be utilized to identify what barriers exist to treatment of pediatric dental patients, including those who have dental insurance through Medicaid and KCHIP.

Through partnerships with local organizations, the university will pilot teledentistry services in the rural and underserved communities of Central Appalachia.

The findings of the project will be used to help inform policy and will be published in academic journals to help increase access to dental care in the region.

For more information about the University of Pikeville, visit the school’s website.