Collaboration among dental educators, administrators, and clinicians may improve access to dental care and serve underserved populations, according to a study recently published in BMC Oral Health.
Furthermore, a collective approach using financial, educational, and administrative strategies may be essential to attract and retain dental graduates in nonurban areas, the authors wrote.
"The combined efforts of the state, dental education, local administrators and clinicians can be successful in addressing the complex problem of access to and utilization of dental care and providing oral health care to underserved populations," wrote the authors, led by Eli Schwarz of the Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry (BMC Oral Health, March 11, 2025, Vol. 25, 367).
Conducted between 2018 and 2023, the study leveraged administrative changes to state loan repayment programs to recruit dental professionals to dental health professional shortage areas. A total of 57 senior dental students in Oregon were surveyed on factors influencing their practice location choices and postgraduation preferences, they wrote.
Workforce and demographic data identified five particularly underserved rural counties. These areas received teledentistry-supported care through community health centers using the virtual dental home model. Alongside financial incentives for new graduates, retention efforts focused on supporting dentists and hygienists already serving these communities.
The survey found the most influential factors in practice location decisions were clinic characteristics, support, geographic location, and future opportunities. Preferred practice locations were suburban (52.5%), rural (24.6%), urban (21.1%), and military service (1.8%). The most favored practice setting was private practice (38.6%) followed by community health (29.9%); group practice (22.8%); and corporate, hospital, or military settings (8.7%), they wrote.
When offered incentive awards, 57.4% of those initially disinterested in working in underserved areas reconsidered, with significantly more women than men responding positively (62.1% versus 50%). This increased the potential number of graduates willing to work in rural areas from 10 to 36 (63.2%), with financial assistance being the primary motivator.
However, the study had limitations. Limited data on students' rural or urban backgrounds restricted the ability to assess potential confounding effects, the authors added.
"Innovative financial, educational, clinical, administrative and human resource methods must be used collaboratively to induce dental graduates to choose practice locations outside of major urban centers and retain their longevity," they concluded.
