....hi guys. I'm trying to think of what my next move should be after finishing my year as chief. I'm thinking of maybe heading for an area where there is a shortage of dentists. Is there a specific place where this kind of info is compiled? I'm scouting around on Google and finding just lots of random info.
Thanks!
Try Southern California. I hear there are a few buildings that have about 45 dentists in house, so that means that you could set up shop right down the road , put out a shingle and call yourself the "only dentist in this building!"
Now I find it funny what the government defines as "underserved, shortage areas" and I look on the list and find:
"LOW INC - SOUTH BEACH" in Miami. You know... that South Beach. It would be interesting to note that if some politicians get their way for solutions "to access to care" and get lower-trained individuals such as "DHAT" or "Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners" opening practices in a mall on South Beach while sold a story about how access to care will help solve problems in very rural areas where there is 1 stop light.
Check out the following:
"The DHAT is a new element of this proposed structure. After
2 years of training beyond high school, a DHAT may provide diagnostic and treatment services for dental caries, uncomplicated tooth removal, and pulpotomies without direct supervision by a dentist." - Sekiguchi E, et. al Am J Public Health. 2005 May; 95(5): 769773.
"The dental hygiene profession is already on the frontline of defense against disease; however, due to current state practice acts, there are unwarranted barriers imposed that do not allow the public direct access to preventive care and education from dental hygienists. The U.S. is experiencing a crisis shortage of dentists available to treat millions of Americans, including a concentration of un-served populations in both rural and inner city areas who are unable to obtain care because there are not enough dentists practicing in those areas.The Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner is an answer to the oral health crisis in America by safely providing cost-effective, diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic and restorative services directly to the
un-served public." -
http://www.adha.org/media/facts/adhp.htm
I practice in the FL Keys and give a day and a half at the county community health clinic and find it a great experience. The other 3 and a half days I practice at a cosmetic practice here. Both jobs offer two distinct treatment ideals and are both rewarding in their own ways.
Community health clinics are a great resource for treating local and rural people and some do pay well. I imagine that if the dentists who are practicing in a county gave 1 day a month to work at these clinics (getting paid) we would have a dramatic decrease in access to care issue. I do, however, have a problem with somebody who has 2 years of training beyond HIGH SCHOOL, the equivalent of an associates degree, performing IRREVERSIBLE procedures on human beings.
Moral of the post: I highly encourage any new graduate (or practicing dentist) to participate in an underserved area, whether it be in South Beach, Miami or Alaska.
-Mike
