Iowa FIND Project | Connecting dentists and under-served communities

Iowa’s dental care shortage hits home. If you live in rural Iowa, chances are your community is considered a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA). After all, over half of counties in Iowa are designated shortage areas, and many more are at risk of becoming so. In 2018, 26% of all Iowa dentists were 60 years of age and older, 45% of all Iowa dentists were 50 years of age and older, and only 6% of all Iowa dentists were younger than 30 years of age.

With an overall shortage of dentists – and nearly half of active dentists facing imminent retirement – it is imperative that rural Iowa communities actively recruit new dentists to serve coming generations.

Dentists can take advantage of community outreach efforts with Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) and their sponsoring utilities. IADG can help bring projects together and assist with local funding for FIND Program match and low-interest loans for establishing dental practices. To connect to IADG, click below and call Bruce Hansen or Brittany Wirtz:
www.iadg.com/about-us

The I-Smile™ Program at the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is a statewide initiative to connect Iowans with dental, medical, and community resources. Local I-Smile™ and I-Smile™ Silver Coordinators work with dentists to help establish dental homes and improve dental care for underserved children and adults, and also partner with community leaders in dental recruitment efforts. To connect to I-Smile™, click below and call Bob Russell or Tracy Rodgers:
https://idph.iowa.gov/ohds/ismile




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	“This was not a textbook method, the project happened by the nature of the unique local leadership of Corning.” - Beth Waddle, Adams County Development		Community Resources Iowa’s dental care shortage hits home. If you live in rural Iowa, chances are your community is considered a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA). After all, over half of counties in Iowa are designated shortage areas, and many more are at risk of becoming so. In 2018, 26% of all Iowa dentists were 60 years of age and older, 45% of all Iowa dentists were 50 years of age and older, and only 6% of all Iowa dentists were younger than 30 years of age. With an overall shortage of dentists – and nearly half of active dentists facing imminent retirement – it is imperative that rural Iowa communities actively recruit new dentists to serve coming generations. Dentists can take advantage of community outreach efforts with Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) and their sponsoring utilities. IADG can help bring projects together and assist with local funding for FIND Program match and low-interest loans for establishing dental practices. To connect to IADG, click below and call Bruce Hansen or Brittany Wirtz: www.iadg.com/about-us The I-Smile™ Program at the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is a statewide initiative to connect Iowans with dental, medical, and community resources. Local I-Smile™ and I-Smile™ Silver Coordinators work with dentists to help establish dental homes and improve dental care for underserved children and adults, and also partner with community leaders in dental recruitment efforts. To connect to I-Smile™, click below and call Bob Russell or Tracy Rodgers: https://idph.iowa.gov/ohds/ismile