California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development

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Healthcare Workforce Development Division

DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA

Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are based on the evaluation of criteria established through federal regulation to identify geographic areas or population groups with a shortage of Dental providers.

Definition of Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA)

The federal Dental HPSA designation (formerly Health Manpower Shortage Areas) identifies areas as having a shortage of dental providers on the basis of availability of dentists and dental auxiliaries.

Criteria: To qualify for designation as a DHPSA, an area must be:

1. A rational service area: California recognizes Medical Services Study Areas as rational service areas;
2. Population to general practice dentist ratio: 5,000:1 or 4,000:1 plus population features demonstrating "unusually high need;" and
3. A lack of access to dental care in surrounding areas because of excessive distance, overutilization, or access barriers.

Benefits of designation as a DHPSA include:

• Education loan repayment and personnel placement through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC);
• Eligibility for the NHSC/State Loan Repayment Program;
• Scholarships for dental training in return for service in a shortage area; and
• Funding priorities for training in general practice dentistry in programs that provide substantial training in shortage areas.

Return to Shortage Designation Program