Rural Dental Practice: A Tale of Four States (Working Paper #107, March 2006)

This working paper investigates the inadequacy of access to dental care in rural populations, and the demography, training, and practice characteristics of rural dentists in four states: Maine, Missouri, California, and Alabama. It highlights work and staffing patterns, vacancy rates, Medicaid participation, and job satisfaction of rural dentists; and provides perspectives of dental providers on issues related to access to care, including ways to address unmet dental needs. The working paper includes appendices, tables, figures, and references.