April 20, 2026 | A Partnership That Built Access Dental Care

Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Bill Milner and Betsy Lee White saw a problem that many overlooked. Across North Carolina, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, frail older adults, and medically fragile patients were going without dental care because they couldn’t access it.

Instead of accepting that reality, they chose to change it.

The path forward was not easy. It required persistence, creativity, and a willingness to challenge systems that were never built for the people they were trying to serve. Still, they pressed on, guided by the belief that every person deserves compassionate, dignified access to dental care.

Today, that vision has grown into a statewide model serving more than 200 facilities, including skilled nursing homes, group homes, PACE programs, and community-based care settings. Their work has not only transformed access across North Carolina, but has helped shape the field of special care dentistry nationwide.

Bill and Betsy have been recognized for their leadership and impact through national awards, and contributions to policy and education in special care dentistry. Their work has always remained rooted in something simple. Showing up for patients who would otherwise not have access to dental care.

As we celebrate 25 years of progress in special care dentistry, we honor the partnership, vision, and determination that built Access Dental Care and continues to guide it forward today.