A new chapter in the history of dental care in North Carolina officially opened on Friday. Thousands of underserved residents of North Carolina’s rural areas received the fulfillment of a promise made seven years earlier to deliver them the best that dental medicine has to offer.

The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine opened the doors of Ledyard E. Ross Hall to the visiting public following a dedication and ribbon-cutting hosted by university chancellor Steve Ballard. The event drew about 600 local, state and federal elected and appointed officials, faculty, students and stakeholders.

“Ross Hall not only provides a world-class learning facility for our students, it represents the completion of our promise to build a unique dental school that serves every area of North Carolina that is currently without sufficient oral health care,” Ballard said. “It is also symbolic of ECU’s historic mission to make a difference for North Carolina.”

For the complete article, please pick up a copy of The Daily Reflector. Current home delivery and electronic edition subscribers may log in to access this article at no charge. To become a subscriber, please click here or contact Customer Service at (252) 329-9505.