Shortage of dentists in Arkansas
Figures show that there is a severe shortage of dentists in Arkansas; Arkansas rates amongst the worst states in terms of the number of dentists per 100,000 patients.
Dr Charles Cranford, from UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences), said that the shortage of dentists was not helped by the fact that there is currently no dental school in the state. Dr Cranford is currently working to introduce a dental training programme to UAMS.
Dr Cranford said that figures show that there are just 40 dentists per 100,000 patients in Arkansas, while the national average stands at 60. Dr Cranford said that inter-state agreements with dental schools helped to encourage some newly qualified dentists to Arkansas but there was still a severe shortage and standards of oral health in the region were suffering as a result.
The situation is also becoming more serious as a significant number of dentists are set to retire in the coming years; currently, the numbed of dentists coming into the state is significantly lower than it needs to be to replace dentists who are retiring and therefore the shortage will get worse, rather than better.
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