“This was not a textbook method, the project happened by the nature of the unique local leadership of Corning.”

- Beth Waddle, Adams County Development


 

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 federally designated HPSAs, and many more are at risk. Based on data from the Iowa Department of Public Health and the University of Iowa:

• Eighty-six of Iowa’s counties are dental shortage priority counties.
• Twenty-one of those counties are considered high priority (with 1 or less full-time dentist or all the dentists are aged 60 or older).
• Four Iowa counties have no dentists and three counties have no full-time dentists.  

With an overall shortage of dentists – and many 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.
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 Tracy Rodgers:
https://idph.iowa.gov/ohds/ismile