Two public universities are poised to ask the State University System governing board for permission to start a dental school – despite a recent health department report that questions whether there is a need for more dentists.
Last week, in preparation for a September board meeting, the University of Central Florida and Florida A&M University both submitted formal requests with the Board of Governors to start new dental schools.
These requests are pitting several universities against each other in the quest to lure dental school students and research dollars.
But they may not have an easy time gaining approval.
The Board of Governors has been studying the issue for months and recently took on board a Department of Health study that said there are enough new Florida dentists entering the profession through 2050 to offset any attrition due to retiring dentists.
