Looking For A Few Good Dentists

Arkansas is among many states looking for a few good dentists to set up shop in rural areas. Dr. Stacey Swilling owns a practice in her hometown of Sheridan. But experts say not enough new dentists are willing to take that kind of risk... insead, choosing to work in bigger cities where they can see more patients. The main reason for that decision? They owe too much on student loans after they graduate from dental school. Stacey Swilling, D.D.S. "The debt load when we come out of school is so large and when you take that and then doing this and not knowing if it`s going to work or not, it`s real scary, but it just took a leap of faith." Billy Tarpley ARKANSAS DENTAL ASSOCOCIATION "Right now, the national average debt for a dental student who`s entering practice is $100,000." Another reason new dentists hesitate to go to rural areas... the high percentage of people eligible for medicaid. Many dentists no longer accept it, saying medicaid is not economically feasible. On that note though, Arkansas dentists provide 8 and a half million dollars in free and charitable dental care each year.