DMACC Breaks Ground on New Dental Building, Celebrates 50 Years of Dental Hygiene Program

DMACC today broke ground on a new 26,000-square-foot Dental Building on its Ankeny Campus while also marking the 50th anniversary of its nationally accredited Dental Hygiene Program.

The new facility will greatly expand DMACC's current dental space and increase enrollment capacity by 25 percent, while preserving small class sizes and student-instructor ratios. The building will feature advanced simulation labs, modern classrooms, a public clinic, and student spaces designed to meet Iowa's urgent need for skilled dental professionals.

"Iowa, like many places, is facing a shortage of dental hygienists and assistants. Jobs are going unfilled. Many Iowans struggle to find care. And here at DMACC, our students - gifted, committed, caring people - are ready to rise to the challenge," said DMACC President Rob Denson. "With this construction project, we've made a promise to our students and our communities that DMACC will meet Iowa's workforce needs in dental care."

For Jeanie McCarville-Kerber, Executive Academic Dean of Health & Sciences, the day was as much about honoring history as it was about looking ahead:

"For the past 50 years, our current clinic has been more than just Building 9," McCarville-Kerber said. "It has been a place of learning, healing, and connection. Today, we look forward. This new educational Dental Clinic represents more than an upgrade in facilities - it's a bold investment in access and excellence."

Johanna Land, Dental Programs Coordinator and DMACC alumna, reflected on the transformative impact of the program: "I've watched students walk in with dreams and walk out with purpose. Now, with these state-of-the-artfacilities, we're giving them the tools, the technology, and the environment to thrive like never before."

Support from partners such as the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, which made a $250,000 investmentearlier this year, has been instrumental in making the project a reality.

"This new and modernized space will help attract students from across the state, including rural and underserved communities, and create clear pathways into high-demand dental careers," said Suzanne Heckenlaible, Executive Director of Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. "We commend DMACC and its Dental Programs team for their leadership in expanding Iowa's dental workforce through innovative, inclusive training, and a facility designed to address patients' needs including addressing sensory and accessibility issues to improve access to care for all Iowans."

Following the groundbreaking, alumni, faculty, students, and community partners gathered to celebrate the program's 50th anniversary. Since graduating its first class in 1975, DMACC's Dental Hygiene Program has prepared hundreds of professionals who now serve in private practices, public health clinics, research facilities, and educational institutions across Iowa and beyond.

With construction now underway, the new Dental Building is expected to open in January 2027, extending DMACC's legacy of service while training future generations of dental hygienists and assistants to provide compassionate care for Iowa's communities.

"Together, we are building more than a facility; we are building a legacy," said Johanna Land. "One that honors our past, celebrates our present, and embraces a future filled with opportunity, compassion, and impact."

For more information about how to support the new Dental Building project, visit: dmacc.edu/foundation/projects/dental.html

To learn more about DMACC's Dental Clinic, or to schedule an appointment for preventative dental, call 515-964-6280.