Bulletin of Dental Education Article

Lyon College celebrated the grand opening of the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (Lyon College SDM) Patient Care Clinic in Little Rock, AR, marking a major milestone in expanding dental education and patient care access in Arkansas.

The event highlighted the Lyon College SDM’s continued growth and its commitment to preparing the next generation of dental professionals while increasing access to quality oral health services.

“The opening of our patient care clinic represents an important step forward for our school and for the communities we serve,” said Burke Soffe, D.M.D., M.Ed., Founding Dean of Lyon College SDM. “This clinic reflects our mission to educate outstanding dental professionals while providing compassionate, high-quality care to patients across Arkansas.”

During the event, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announced a new partnership between the dental school, the City of Little Rock and the Little Rock Cares Fund, a community fundraising effort designed to engage businesses, residents and civic partners in supporting a patient assistance fund established by Lyon College. 

Caroline Sykes, M.S., Lyon College SDM Philanthropy Officer, said the initiative will help ensure that patients who are uninsured or unable to pay for dental treatment can still receive needed care while expanding access to affordable oral health services across the community. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 15% to 25% of patients are unable to pay for care, with that figure rising to approximately 30% among uninsured and low-income populations.

“This clinic strengthens our ability to meet the oral health needs of Arkansans while also creating new opportunities for students to learn in a real-world clinical environment,” said Melissa Taverner, Ph.D., President of Lyon College. “It is a proud moment for Lyon College and for the city of Little Rock.”

Following brief remarks, guests participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, toured the new facility and attended a reception.

“This space was designed with both patients and students in mind,” said Ashley McMillan, D.D.S., Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs for the Lyon College SDM. “It allows us to deliver exceptional care while ensuring students receive hands-on training in a modern, collaborative environment that prepares them for practice.”

The Lyon College SDM Patient Care Clinic offers high-quality dental care at an affordable rate under the supervision of licensed faculty and experienced clinical staff. Patients are seen by supervised student dentists in a teaching clinic model designed to ensure both excellent care and strong clinical education.

Services include cleanings and exams, fillings, porcelain crowns and bridges, root canals, extractions, dentures and partials, implant therapy, clear aligner therapy and advanced digital imaging and 3D technology.

For more information, please visit lyon.edu/dental.

Courtesy of Lyon College School of Dental Medicine

Published on July 8, 2026