Dental shortage areas in Mississippi
HRSA designates Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) where access to dental care is constrained. These are the verified dentists practicing inside one of Mississippi'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.
11 HPSA-area dentists in Mississippi
Sorted by content score
- HPSA
Paul Riley, D.D.S.
Orofacial Pain Specialist
RidgelandMedicareClass of 1983View profile - HPSA
Samuel Reid Lester, DMD
Dentist (Other)
LexingtonMedicareView profile - HPSA
Curtis Patrick Caskey, D.M.D.
Dentist (Other)
RidgelandMedicareView profile - HPSA
Howard J Burns, D.D.S.
Dentist (Other)
RidgelandMedicareView profile - HPSA
Bradley Emmett Williams, DMD
General Dentist
PelahatchieMedicareView profile - HPSA
Jefferson Ridgway Gamblin, D.M.D.
Orthodontist
HazlehurstView profile - HPSA
Stephanie Sullivan Tullos, DMD
Dentist (Other)
RaleighMedicareView profile - HPSA
Charles Joseph Caskey, D. M.D.
Periodontist
RidgelandView profile - HPSA
Jason William Vassar, D.M.D.
Orthodontist
RidgelandView profile - HPSA
Firas Mourad
Prosthodontist
RidgelandMedicareView profile - HPSA
Lane Napier Baxter, D.M.D.
Dental Public Health
RaleighView profile
Dental shortage areas in Mississippi
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 Mississippi?
We currently list 11 verified dentists practicing inside HRSA-designated dental HPSAs in Mississippi. 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.