Assessing Supply and Demand for Oral Health Services in Rural Southwest Virignia

Southwest Virginia (SWVA), a rural, low-income region of Virginia, has among the poorest oral health outcomes in the country. One option that has been proposed to improve oral health is to open a dental school in the region. To examine the effect of a dental school we conduct an oral health needs assessment, looking at both dental demand and supply in the region. In order to understand consumer demand for oral health services, we compare dental utilization rates among uninsured, Medicaid, and privately insured individuals both within SWVA and across Virginia. On the supply side, we study the availability of dentists and dental auxiliaries in the region and conduct a survey examining the structure of dental practices. Taking into account both the supply and demand for dental services among different groups, we evaluate the economic feasibility of dental graduates remaining in the region and the expected contribution of dental school clinic services in treating low-income residents. We also consider alternative solutions, such as creating a dental school clinic with care distributed throughout the region, establishing a clinic and residency program in conjunction with a dental school located outside of the region, and expanding school-based oral health programs. The results are expected to inform policymakers about various cost-effective options for training dentists and improving oral health in SWVA.