Rural Project Examples: Dental workforce
Other Project Examples
Tooth B.U.D.D.S.
Added July 2024
- Need: To increase access to preventive dental care among children living in rural Arizona.
- Intervention: A nonprofit organization formed to offer free, school-based preventive dental services to children in two rural Arizona counties.
- Results: Throughout the 2023-24 school year, Tooth B.U.D.D.S. provided preventive services to 1,710 students in rural Graham and Greenlee Counties. Program staff use a telehealth platform to connect children to local dentists for follow-up care.
Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE)

Updated/reviewed June 2024
- Need: Address oral health disparities in Washington's rural communities.
- Intervention: The University of Washington School of Dentistry (UWSOD) developed the Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program to increase the number of dentists prepared for the various languages and custom-specific attitudes concerning oral health in addition to the clinical competence required to practice in rural areas.
- Results: Since its start in 2009 and as of 2024, nearly 100 dentists have completed the program with over 81% practicing in rural communities.
For examples from other sources, see: