Dental shortage areas in Kentucky
HRSA designates Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) where access to dental care is constrained. These are the verified dentists practicing inside one of Kentucky's designated zones — often the cheapest, hardest-to-find option for low-income or rural patients.
What does “dental HPSA” mean?
The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) evaluates geographic areas, populations, and facilities and designates them as Health Professional Shortage Areas when there aren't enough dentists to meet the local population's needs.
HPSAs are scored 0–26. Higher score = greater unmet need. Federal Loan Repayment Programs prioritize HPSA-area practice, which is why many of the dentists below are early- career or mission-driven providers.
21 HPSA-area dentists in Kentucky
Sorted by content score
- HPSA
Michael Lee Bobo, DDS MD
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
MurrayMedicareClass of 1997View profile - HPSA
William J Moorhead, D.M.D.
General Dentist
FlemingsburgMedicareView profile - HPSA
Alexis M Mai, D.M.D.
General Dentist
Crestview HillsMedicareView profile - HPSA
Grady A Gibson, DMD
General Dentist
NewportMedicareView profile - HPSA
Jack R Mercke, DMD
Dentist (Other)
BurlingtonMedicareView profile - HPSA
Timothy Andrew Mcclain, D.D.S.
Pediatric Dentist
ShelbyvilleMedicareView profile - HPSA
Ellen C Torbeck, DMD
Dentist (Other)
BurlingtonMedicareView profile - HPSA
Eli O. Jackson, D.M.D.
General Dentist
Bowling GreenMedicareView profile - HPSA
Tara Lee Ryle, DMD
General Dentist
IndependenceMedicareView profile - HPSA
Jeffrey David Peter, DMD
General Dentist
IndependenceMedicareView profile - HPSA
Gregory J Pohl, DDS
Dentist (Other)
BurlingtonMedicareView profile - HPSA
Timothy Gerard Donley, DDS MSD
Periodontist
Bowling GreenView profile - HPSA
Janice Ann Struckhoff, DDS, MS
Orthodontist
IndependenceView profile - HPSA
Scott D Seitzinger, DMD
Endodontist
PaducahMedicareView profile - HPSA
Daniela K Shields, DMD
Endodontist
PaducahMedicareView profile - HPSA
Jacob Britt, D.M.D.
Orthodontist
IndependenceMedicareView profile - HPSA
Kristen Eve George, DMD
Orthodontist
LebanonView profile - HPSA
William Ervin Yoder, DMD
Endodontist
Crestview HillsMedicareView profile - HPSA
Eric M Soper, DMD
Pediatric Dentist
BurlingtonView profile - HPSA
James Ralph Wells III, D.M.D.
Prosthodontist
MurrayView profile - HPSA
Michael Wayne Hubbard, D.M.D.
Dental Public Health
Bowling GreenView profile
Dental shortage areas in Kentucky
What does dental HPSA mean?
A Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) is a federally-designated geographic area, population, or facility where there are not enough dentists to meet local need. HRSA evaluates and scores HPSAs from 0 to 26 — higher scores mean greater unmet need.How many HPSA-area dentists are listed in Kentucky?
We currently list 21 verified dentists practicing inside HRSA-designated dental HPSAs in Kentucky. The full HRSA shortage map covers many more practice sites; see the HRSA finder for the authoritative list.Why are HPSA-area dentists worth seeking out?
Dentists who choose HPSA practice are often participants in federal loan-repayment programs (NHSC, IHS, FQHC dental). Many serve a higher share of Medicaid and uninsured patients, so they tend to be the most realistic option for low-income or rural patients seeking affordable care.Can I use an HPSA score to compare providers?
No. The HPSA score reflects local need, not provider quality. A high HPSA score means the area is underserved; it does not say anything about the dentist as a clinician. Verify a license and check OIG sanctions for clinical-quality concerns.