Dental Care and Advanced Training Program Coming Soon to MUSC Health Florence Medical Center

MUSC dental care to open in Florence, SC

MUSC’s dental and oral health services are coming to the Florence community. Appointments will begin in July 2026.

The new dental services will be conveniently located within the MUSC Health Florence Medical Center, a leading regional acute care hospital dedicated to meeting the health care needs of communities across northeastern South Carolina.

The practice is the first MUSC dental care location to open in the region.

MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system and has the broadest range of specialties in South Carolina.

Trusted expertise meets comprehensive dental care at MUSC

A 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment conducted in partnership between McLeod Health and MUSC found that less than 60% of survey respondents Darlington, Florence, Marion, and Williamsburg Counties had received preventative dental care, such as a cleaning or x-ray, within the prior 12 months.

“We are excited to offer a dental home for individuals in the Pee Dee region in need of care. We look forward to supporting additional communities across South Carolina as we increase access to dental services,” said Emily Groce, executive director of dental health.

MUSC providers are general dentists with extensive clinical experience and specialists with postdoctoral training. The new Florence location will serve adults, teens, and children of all ages. A wheelchair-accessible dental exam room is designed to meet a range of special health care needs.

MUSC Health Dental and Oral Care in Florence is in-network with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Dental Network. Medicare and Medicaid are accepted. CareCredit, which offers interest-free payment plans to qualified applicants, is also accepted.

Advanced training program will support long-term oral health outcomes

In 2027, the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine will bring a general practice residency program to the MUSC Health Dental and Oral Care location in Florence.

General practice residencies typically offer newly graduated dentists, or dentists looking to expand the populations they care for, advanced clinical experience while delivering high-quality dental care to the community.

Residents develop the skills and confidence needed to manage comprehensive dental care through interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice, and mentorship from experienced faculty. The program at the MUSC Health Florence Medical Center will prepare residents for success in private practice, community health, or specialty training.

“This advanced training program is essential to improving access to care for medically complex patients in the Pee Dee region,” said Amy Martin, DrPH, a professor and senior associate dean for the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. “The program is also an opportunity to partner with local dentists in advancing care innovations and professional development. In this way, the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine strategically supports the recruitment and retention of dentists in rural and underserved South Carolina communities.”

The College of Dental Medicine already directly supports dental care in six communities across the state by requiring dental students to complete clinical rotations. Additionally, its Center for Rural Oral Health Research and Community Engagement opened in 2023 serves as a vital hub for research, professional development of the state’s oral health workforce, and oral health outreach in rural communities across the Pee Dee region.