The DHHS Office of Rural Health also tracks state general dental shortage areas and in 2013 there were 49 counties designated as shortage areas (over 50%) and 20 counties with no full time or only part time general dentist coverage representing about 35,000 people or 1.8% of our population.¹ These counties include: Sioux, Banner, Grant, Arthur, McPherson, Hooker, Thomas, Logan, Blaine, Loup, Keya Paha, Wheeler, Greeley, Gosper, Hayes, Fillmore, Frontier, Sherman, Stanton and Hitchcock.

Sources:

1. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Service, Rural health Advisory Commission. State-Designated Shortage Area General Dentistry; Corrected January 2015.

There are fewer dentists practicing in rural office locations to treat these higher disease rates. In 2012, there were 1,497 licensed dentists in Nebraska and 1,034 were actively practicing. About 80% were general practice dentists and 20% were specialists.¹ The majority of Nebraska dentists (61%) work in urban areas while only 39% work in rural settings.² There are about 800 general dentists reporting in Nebraska and almost 1/3 (239) are over the age of 60 and are approaching retirement age.¹ More than half of the state is considered a general dentist shortage area and that situation is more pronounced (almost 85%)^3,4 when concerning pediatric and oral surgery specialists. (see maps below). Higher disease, fewer providers, geographic challenges, lack of public transportation, weather conditions, and socioeconomic concerns make rural residents one of the largest and most vulnerable groups for dental disease in our state.

Sources:

1. University of Nebraska Medical Center. Health Professional Tracking System; 2012.

2. Chandak, A., McFarland, K., Nayar, P., Deras, Marlene, and Stimpson, P. J. (2013). Access to Oral Health Care in Nebraska. UNMC Center for Health Policy. Available at:http://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/hpts/news/2013-ac....

3. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Service, Rural health Advisory Commission. State-Designated Shortage Area General Dentistry; Corrected January 2015.

4. Chandak, A., McFarland, K., Nayar, P., Deras, M., and Stimpson, P. J. (2013). Access to Oral Health Care In Nebraska. University of Nebraska Medical Center. Available at: http://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/hpts/news/2013-ac....