Dr. Jessica Sliger, a board-certified pediatric dentist and adjunct faculty member at Lyon College School of Dental Medicine in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been named to the American Dental Association's and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's "10 Under 10" honors and to Incisal Edge Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" list, Lyon College announced on July 17, 2026. The recognition lands as Arkansas's first dental school works to grow its own pipeline of pediatric providers in a state, and a country, where rural families often drive far longer than city families to reach a children's dental specialist.
Key facts
- Dr. Jessica Sliger was named to the ADA's and AAPD's "10 Under 10" honoree lists and Incisal Edge Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40," sponsored by Benco Dental, according to Lyon College (July 17, 2026).
- Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, Arkansas's first dental school, enrolled an inaugural class of 80 students in 2025, with 43 percent from Arkansas, according to Lyon College (June 25, 2025).
- Ninety eight percent of dental specialists practice in urban areas, and rural residents drive 3.2 times longer than urban residents for specialty dental care, according to Harvard School of Dental Medicine researcher Hawazin Elani, cited in a Harvard Gazette report (April 2026).
Who is Dr. Jessica Sliger, and why was she just honored?
Dr. Jessica Sliger is a board-certified pediatric dentist who serves as adjunct faculty at Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, and she has just been recognized on three separate national honor lists in the same cycle. Lyon College confirmed on July 17, 2026 that Sliger was named among the American Dental Association's "10 Under 10" honorees, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's own "10 Under 10" award recipients, and Incisal Edge Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" dentists, a list sponsored by Benco Dental. She also holds fellowships with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Laser Study Club, and she was elected president-elect of the Northwest District Dental Society of the Arkansas State Dental Association. The ADA's "10 Under 10" program recognizes dentists within their first ten years of practice for leadership, community service, and professional achievement, according to the American Dental Association.
Sliger practices pediatric dentistry in Arkansas and teaches the next generation of dental students at Lyon College. In a statement provided through the college, she said she was grateful for the recognition and for what the young dental school is building. "I am deeply grateful to represent Lyon College School of Dental Medicine as adjunct faculty and appreciate all the school is doing to build a strong and innovative dental education program," Sliger said, according to Lyon College.
What is Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, and why does it matter for Arkansas families?
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine is Arkansas's first dental school, and it exists specifically to train more dentists, including pediatric providers, to stay and practice in the state. The school, located in the Riverdale neighborhood of Little Rock, welcomed its inaugural cohort in 2025: 80 students in the three-year Doctor of Dental Medicine program, with 43 percent of that class hailing from Arkansas and another 33 percent from bordering states, according to a Lyon College announcement from June 25, 2025. The average cumulative GPA of that founding class was 3.50, and more than 60 percent of incoming students already had prior dental clinic experience, the college reported.
Founding dean Dr. Burke Soffe has repeatedly tied the school's mission to family and pediatric access. "Pediatric dentists play a vital role in our students' education by emphasizing prevention, behavior management and compassionate, patient-centered care from the earliest stages of life," Soffe said, according to Lyon College's July 17, 2026 announcement. When the inaugural class arrived in 2025, Soffe called it "a historic moment for Lyon College and for the state," adding that the students "will help shape the future of oral health care in Arkansas and beyond."
Why does rural pediatric dental access matter for families across the country?
Rural families, in Arkansas and nationally, wait longer and travel farther to see a dental specialist than families in cities, and pediatric dentistry is one of the specialties affected. A Harvard Gazette report published April 17, 2026, drawing on research from Harvard School of Dental Medicine associate professor Hawazin Elani and American Dental Association Health Policy Institute chief economist Marko Vujicic, found that 24.7 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of dental care, and that 98 percent of dental specialists practice in urban areas. The same research found rural residents drive 3.2 times longer than urban residents to reach specialty dental care, and it cited an example of a child in South Dakota needing an 80 minute drive to reach pediatric dental specialty care.
| Access measure | Urban areas | Rural areas |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist-to-population ratio | 1 per 1,470 people | 1 per 3,850 people |
| Share of dental specialists located there | 98 percent | 2 percent |
| Typical travel burden for specialty care | Baseline | 3.2 times longer drive |
Source: Harvard Gazette, April 17, 2026, citing Hawazin Elani, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Marko Vujicic, ADA Health Policy Institute.
That national backdrop is exactly why a new, home grown dental school and a nationally honored pediatric faculty member matter to Arkansas families specifically. A dental school that trains and keeps pediatric dentists in-state is one of the few concrete levers that can shorten the drive for a rural family whose child needs a filling, a sealant, or specialty care.
How can parents find a board-certified pediatric dentist for their child?
Parents looking for a children's dentist should start by confirming board certification and pediatric-specific training, since general dentists and pediatric dentists are trained differently for behavior management and treatment of young or anxious patients. Directories that list verified pediatric dentists, such as Oak Mountain Pediatric Dentistry in Birmingham, Alabama, are one starting point for families comparing local providers, alongside recommendations from a child's pediatrician or school nurse. Families in areas without a nearby pediatric specialist can also ask a general family dentist how often they treat young children and whether they refer complex cases to a pediatric specialist.
How does this fit into the broader pediatric dentist shortage story?
This recognition arrives alongside other recent moves to grow the pediatric dental workforce nationally, including new residency programs and federal training funding. Smile Listing has previously covered how Akron Children's opened Ohio's fifth pediatric dentistry residency as the national shortage squeezes families, and how a House panel raised federal pediatric dentistry training funds to 14 million dollars for 2027. Arkansas's approach, building its first dental school from scratch and staffing it with recognized pediatric faculty like Sliger, is a parallel strategy toward the same goal: more pediatric dentists in more communities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ADA's and AAPD's "10 Under 10" award?
It is a recognition given by the American Dental Association and, separately, by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, to dentists within their first ten years of practice for leadership, community involvement, and professional achievement, according to the American Dental Association.
Where is Lyon College School of Dental Medicine located?
The school is located in the Riverdale neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, and it is the state's first dental school, according to Lyon College.
How many students are in Lyon College's dental program?
The inaugural class that started in 2025 had 80 students, with 43 percent from Arkansas and 33 percent from bordering states, according to Lyon College.
Why do rural children have less access to pediatric dental specialists?
Nationally, 98 percent of dental specialists practice in urban areas, leaving rural families with far fewer nearby options and significantly longer drive times for specialty pediatric dental care, according to Harvard School of Dental Medicine research reported in the Harvard Gazette in April 2026.
Updated July 2026.
