UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY Creating

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY Creating a UAA Dental School: Feasibility Report By: Caleb Mc. Graw http: //now. tufts. edu/articles/newaccolade-dental-school

Abstract • This Project examines the feasibility of opening a dental school at the University of Alaska Anchorage. • Research • Review of literature via UAA consortium library online database • Online survey taken by current UAA students • The Project was discovered to be feasible • Biggest challenge: 65+ million dollar start-up costs • Conclusions • Majority of current UAA students support the dental school • Increase in Anchorage’s economy • Increase in the level of dental care throughout Alaska • Expansion of UAA’s educational standing • Increase in training of highly needed dentists • Recommendations • Create a more detailed outline of budget and costs • Link school to Alaska Native dental care to gain federal funding

Introduction • Problem • Dental care in rural Alaska is far below the rest of the United States, explained as a dental care epidemic. • Only 29% of Alaska Native Children, and fewer adults have access to dental care. • It’s challenging and difficult for dentists to practice dentistry in rural Alaskan when they are unfamiliar with the communities’ cultures and climates. Statistics showing Alaska Native epidemic • Solution http: //www. cdc. gov/nchs/healthy_people/ hp 2000/reviews/oral_health. htm • Bring dental care to Alaska; creating a dental school at UAA which gives priority to Alaskans and Alaska Natives admission. • Require all graduating dentists to perform a mandatory 4 years of work in Alaska before leaving to practice dentistry outside the state. • Dentists who are familiar with the climate and conditions of rural Alaska will be better equipped to work throughout Alaska bringing much needed dental care to rural communities.

Methods • UAA Consortium Library Online Database • Secured background information regarding: • Alaska’s Dental care system • Dental school startup and running costs • Admission process and statistics • Alaska Native dental health in smaller communities/villages • Questionnaire: Dental School at UAA • Taken by current UAA undergraduate students • Views of students regarding: • starting a dental school at UAA. • Impact a new dental school would have on Alaska and the dental care epidemic throughout smaller Alaskan communities. • Impact a Dental school would have on UAA.

Results • Dental school is highly competitive (Burell, 2013) • Meaning large pool of applicants to fill up UAA dental school • Budget • Small dental school in western Canada (similar geographically to Anchorage) upkeep is around two million dollars (Warick, 2009) • To create a small dental school, it will cost upwards of 65 million dollars (O’Keefe, 2007) • Alaska’s need: • Less than 1/3 of Alaska Native children have had access to dental care with adults at even lower numbers (Smith, 2007) • Government has legal agreement to give appropriate dental care to Alaska Natives, which is not being upheld, resulting in a dental health epidemic in Alaska http: //www. alaska-in-pictures. com/cute-nativeeskimo-girl-2112 -pictures. htm

Questionnaire • 15 -questionnaire was given to twelve UAA undergraduate students • Majority supported dental school (11 out of 12) • Data from important questions: Will Alaskan Natives be more cooperative with dentists trained in Alaska? 10 8 6 4 2 0 Yes No Maybe

Conclusion • Creating the UAA School of Dentistry is feasible • UAA students: • Support creating a dental school • Majority agree it will increase quality of dental care in rural Alaska • Majority agree Alaska Natives will be more cooperative with dentists trained in Alaska • Finances • Government has legal agreement to supply Alaska Natives with dental care, therefore a UAA dental school, which will help with the Alaska Native dental health epidemic could be eligible to receive federal funding to help with start-up costs • Will boost economy in Anchorage • Enough aspiring dentists to fill enrollment

Recommendations • In future work: • More viable resources • More quotes on costs to create UAA dental school • In-depth look into how it will effect rural community dental care epidemic https: //www 2. aap. org/oralhealth/Policy. State ments. html

References • Burell, J. (2013). Getting Into Dental School. Retrieved from http: //youngadults. about. com/od/quarterlife/qt/Getting-Into-Dental. School. html. • Klejka, J. , Swanzy, M. , Whistler, B. , Jones, C. , Bruce, M. G. , M. D. , Hennessy, T. W. , Husain, F. (2011). Dental caries in rural alaska native children alaska, 2008. Atlanta: U. S. Center for Disease Control. Retrieved from http: // search. proquest. com. proxy. consortiumlibrary. org/docview/897944692? accountid=14473. • O’Keefe, B. (2007, May 16). Dental school will fill a need - BUDGET: THE WAY AHEAD. The Australian, pp. 22. • P. R. Newswire. (2011, September 23). Alaska's Dental Therapists Combat Widespread Oral Disease, Bringing Preventive Dental Care to Children and Families. Retrieved from www. prnewswire. com/news-releases/alaskadental- therapists-combat-widespread-oral-disease-bringing-preventive-dentalcareto-children-and-families-130447228. html. • Smith, E, B. (2007, June). DENTAL THERAPISTS IN ALASKA: ADDRESSING UNMET NEEDS AND REVIVING COMPETITION IN DENTAL CARE. Alaska Law Review, pp 105. • Warick, J. (2009, November 28). Dental school's budget cut; First Nations University wants to keep program going. The Star Phoenix, pp. 3 A.