Dental shortage areas in South Carolina
HRSA designates Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) where access to dental care is constrained. These are the verified dentists practicing inside one of South Carolina'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.
23 HPSA-area dentists in South Carolina
Sorted by content score
- HPSA
Cindy B Nichols, DMD
Prosthodontist
ColumbiaMedicareClass of 2006View profile - HPSA
Marissa Ann Whitehead, DME
General Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Jeffrey Dootson, DMD
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Andrew T. Johnson, D.M.D.
Dentist (Other)
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Isaiah Lowell Davis JR., DMD
General Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Stephen Edward Clary, DDS
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Sohee Kim Park, DMD, MHS
Periodontist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
James Winston Strider JR., DMD
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Brandon Mack Cain, D.M.D.
Dentist (Other)
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Jessica Erin Hyatt Pruett, D.M.D
General Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Robert Michael Johnson, DMD
General Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Angela L Schweiger, D.M.D
General Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Merri Murdoch Gandhi, DMD
General Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Gregg Walker Mckenzie, DDS
Periodontist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Travis Wayne Mize, D.M.D., M.H.S.
Periodontist
West ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Thomas Stovell Davant VI, D.M.D., M.S.
Orthodontist
ColumbiaView profile - HPSA
Adam J Lane, D.D.S.
Endodontist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Edward Christopher Davis, DDS, MS
Orthodontist
West ColumbiaView profile - HPSA
Christopher C. Jernigan, D.M.D.
Orthodontist
ColumbiaView profile - HPSA
John F Burton, D.D.S.
Prosthodontist
ColumbiaView profile - HPSA
Thomas Jerry Robbins, DMD
Orofacial Pain Specialist
West ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Vanessa De La Rosa, DMD
Pediatric Dentist
ColumbiaMedicareView profile - HPSA
Roger Thomas Brown, DDS
Dental Public Health
OrangeburgView profile
Dental shortage areas in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
We currently list 23 verified dentists practicing inside HRSA-designated dental HPSAs in South Carolina. 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.