EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Texas Tech is expanding its dental program in El Paso by adding a master’s in dentistry with a specialization in orthodontics, an effort officials said is aimed at bringing more specialized dental care to the region.
Dr. Richard C. Black, dean of the Texas Tech Hunt School of Dental Medicine in El Paso, said the new offering is “a program where you get a master’s in the science of dentistry while you’re getting your orthodontic training.”
Dr. Black said the expansion “just means an extra added layer of care for El Pasoans and the region.”
The Texas Tech University Board of Regents approved the new program this week for the Hunt School of Dental Medicine in El Paso.
Besides the master’s, the program adds a certificate in dentofacial orthopedics, tied to the specialized training.
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The Board of Regents said the region has a shortage of specialized dentists and that there are currently no orthodontic training programs in West Texas.
Dr. Black said adding specialties is part of building a comprehensive dental school.
“And so if we want to really have a comprehensive dental school, we need to have specialties that then can treat you know, like if you’re your sister or your aunt or your brother needed their teeth straightened,” Dr. Black said.
We don’t have that capability right now, but slowly as the school grows, we’re going to be adding these specialty programs.
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Dr. Black said the program represents a major investment for Texas Tech, including remodeling space inside the current school to accommodate it.
Dr. Black also pointed to El Paso’s growth as a driver of demand for dental providers.
“El Paso is such a great place right now to start any kind of a dental practice or an ortho practice or a surgery practice because we’re really growing,” Black said.
So orthodontic specialists, oral surgeons, general dentists, family dentists, they’re all going to be needed in El Paso.
The program would allow just three students, Dr. Black said.
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Dr. Black also said there are only about 320 dental residency slots in the country, making the field highly competitive.
“Well, these are usually your top 5% to 10% dental students, you know, graduate doctors that have gone through dental school and done very, very well. It’s very competitive,” he said.
The Board of Regents said the program will cost $5.8 million over five years, with $7.5 million in projected revenue.
Dr. Black said the school hopes to continue expanding specialty programs in El Paso.
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