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Residency Training in General and Pediatric Dentistry

FY2011 Active Grantee Abstract

New Mexico

University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Project Director: Gary Cuttrell, DDS, JD
1 University Place, MSC 09 5020
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131‐0001
Phone: (505) 272-6626 or (505) 272-1161
Fax: (505) 272-1176
Grant Number: D59HP15245

This proposal seeks to acquire funding for the expansion of the University of New Mexico’s one‐year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Residency Program from its current 5 residents to 10 residents. The goal of this expansion is threefold:

  1. To develop resident‐provided dental care to the underserved populations in New Mexico (children, Medicaid recipients, low‐income patients, developmentally disabled patients, and patients in rural areas) as one way to decrease the disparities in oral health care.
  2. To give residents experience in working in a public health and rural settings.
  3. To recruit and retain dental residents after completion of the residency program to remain and practice in underserved regions of New Mexico.

There are a large number of underserved dental populations in New Mexico ‐‐ children, patients on Medicaid, low income families, individuals living in rural areas, and individuals with developmental disabilities. There are 368,000 children residing in the state. Of these children, 271,928 are on Medicaid and an additional 12,379 children are eligible for State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). New Mexico ranks 48th in the nation for children under the age of 18 living in poverty with 31% of families living below 150% of the Federal poverty guidelines ($17,761 annual income for a family of four is the established poverty threshold).

Twenty‐five out of 33 counties in New Mexico are designated as Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSA), and 43% of the population lives in a dental designated HPSA. The rural New Mexico border area counties have 28.5 dentists/100,000 population as compared to the national average of 63.6 dentists/100,000 population
Of the 815 dentists in the state, 52% participate in the Medicaid program; however, in the year 2005, only 293 dentists had at least one paid claim by Medicaid, and only 229 dentists were paid claims totaling greater than $10,000 during that year.

Proposed Services:

  • The program currently operates two clinics in Albuquerque. The population at the Southeast Heights clinic is 100% indigent or on Medicaid. Treatment for those who are indigent is covered under a services grant from the New Mexico Department of Health. At the Northeast Heights clinic, 85% of the patients treated are on Medicaid. During the 2005‐2006 residency year, 10,069 patient visits occurred. The 2006‐2007 residency year, 15,000 patient visits occurred
  • The residency program also provides treatment at Carrie Tingley Hospital, which is dedicated to special needs patients. Dental residents provide consultations at University Hospital for patients with complex medical needs, and program faculty and residents cover the hospital’s emergency room.
  • Resident provided dental care will be expanded to two Federal Qualified Health Centers‐‐Hidalgo Medical Services [Lordsburg, NM] and First Choice Health Center [South Valley, Albuquerque] and to a clinic provided by Eastern New Mexico University [Roswell, NM].

Populations Served: Medicaid, special needs, and low‐income populations.