Shortage of dentists in Kansas
Figures have revealed that there is a widespread shortage of dentists in Kansas.
There are currently 91 counties in Kansas without a sufficient number of dentists to serve the local population and 14 of these counties do not have a dentist. The problem is worst in North East Kansas.
As a result of the shortage of dentists, clinics and dental professionals working in the region are stretched beyond their limits and dentists are struggling to cope. Lee Wolf, CEO of Konza Community Health Center, said that clinics were being overrun by patients and the problem was getting worse.
Health officials say that there are two main problems in Kansas; one is money and the other is the number of new dentists. At the moment, when dentists retire, they are not being replaced and this is leading to a shortfall in the number of working dentists. Money is also an issue; free clinics can rely on the time and expertise of volunteer dentists but they still have to pay for equipment and materials and demand is increasing all the time, meaning resources are stretched.
Meghan Finnegan, administrative coordinator at the Flint Hills Community Clinic, said that clinics were coming under an increasing amount of pressure and the demand for free dental care was increasing, as people struggle to access affordable care.
Join this Discussion