Health Professional Shortage Area Dental

DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA (HPSA)

The federal Dental HPSA designation (formerly Health Manpower Shortage Areas) identifies areas as having a shortage of dental providers on the basis of availability of dentists and dental auxiliaries. To qualify for designation as a Dental HPSA, an area must be:

1. A rational service area, [the Federal Shortage Designation Branch recognizes Medical Services Study Areas as rational service areas.]

2. Population to general practice dentist ratio: 5,000:1 or 4,000:1 plus population features demonstrating "unusually high need",

3. A lack of access to dental care in surrounding areas because of distance, overutilization, or access barriers.

Benefits of designation as a Dental HPSA include:

• Student loan repayment and personnel placement through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC);

• Eligibility for the California State Loan Repayment Program;

• Scholarships for dental training in return for service in a shortage area; and

• Funding priorities for training in general practice dentistry in programs that provide substantial training in shortage areas.

This data was updated July, 2014. (2014 ver.7)