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.