Ark. has one of US' lowest dentist-access rates (UALR Public Radio) - A new report shows Arkansas faces a looming dental "crisis" as it fails to attract young dentists to replace retirees in a state with one of the nation's lowest access levels.

The report shows Arkansas ranks 50th in the nation in the number of dentists it has serving every 100,000 residents in the state, in front of only Mississippi. The report suggests lawmakers set aside $1 million during next year's legislative session to establish a Center for Dental Education at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Arkansas is one of 16 states that don't have a dental school.

On average, the study found there are about 40.3 dentists to serve every 100,000 people in Arkansas. The national average is 60 dentists per 100,000 people.

Four Arkansas counties - Calhoun, Cleveland, Perry and Newton - have no dentists, and 32 counties have five dentists or fewer. Sixty percent of the 1,175 dentists practicing in Arkansas are in eight of 75 counties.


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