Fewer dentists are practicing in rural America, but some states are trying to change that

The number of dentists in rural Nebraska keeps shrinking, and there is little interest among new dentists in setting up practice in the state's rural areas. States like Nebraska, Kentucky and Kansas are trying to lure more dentists to rural areas through incentive programs or by educating the area's youth about the benefits of becoming a dentist and practicing close to home. (Kansas Health Institute photo by Ann Williamson: Dental patients waiting at the Kansas Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic in Manhattan. The free clinics treat thousands who otherwise might not have access to dental care.)

Twenty of Nebraska's 93 counties don't have a dentist, and 31 counties only have one or two, the Fremont Tribune reports. Even worse, 39 percent of the state's dentists are nearing retirement, and there is little interest among recent college graduates in setting up practices in rural areas. Kim McFarland of the University of Nebraska told the Tribune she estimates that of the 45 new dentists entering practice in the state each year, only five or six go to rural areas.

Nebraska has an incentive program that gives a dental-school graduate up to $20,000 a year in tuition reimbursement for workign in underserved rural areas, the Tribune reports. But McFarland said students often graduate with $200,000 or more in debt. She told the Tribune, "We just need to make sure we're recruiting dental students from rural areas and giving them incentives to practice in rural areas." That won't be easy, because the state's two dental schools, at the University of Nebraska and Creighton University — are operating at capacity, McFarland said. (Read more)

Grants in Kentucky and Kansas are helping to raise awareness about the need for dentists in rural areas. Morehead State University received approval this week from the Appalachian Regional Commission for a $400,000 grant to initiate the Appalachian Rural Dental Education Partnership Program, MSU reports. Matching resources from Morehead and the University of Kentucky, which is partnering with Morehead in the program, brings the total to $514,437. 

"The program will increase awareness and support for dental careers among kindergarten through 12th-grade students in Eastern Kentucky; establish a new undergraduate predental curriculum at MSU with links to the UK dental school; and improve oral health conditions at MSU and in the surrounding region," MSU reports. "The strategic will ultimately improve access to dental professionals in underserved areas such as Appalachian Kentucky's distressed counties." (Read more)

In Kansas, in response to a 2011 report that 57,000 people in the state live at least 30 minutes from the nearest dentist, it was announced this week that "the DentaQuest Foundation has given a $100,000 grant to Oral Health Kansas to develop a plan for improving access to dental care," Jim McLean reports for the Kansas Health Institute. "The nonprofit group will work with several other Kansas oral health organizations to craft the plan and submit to the foundation for a  possible two-year implementation grant." (Read more)