Dental Education Loan Repayment for Service Program Launches

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation Commits $2,000,000 to Fund Newly Created Dedicated to Minnesota Dentists Program (DMD)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Jan 21, 2015) - Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, in collaboration with the Minnesota Dental Foundation, announces the launch of the Dedicated to Minnesota Dentists (DMD) Program: a competitive dental education loan repayment for service program for qualifying dentists. DMD's purpose is to increase Minnesotans' access to dental care by attracting qualified dentists to the parts of Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities that are underserved.

Nearly half of the State of Minnesota currently qualifies as federally designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. About 10 counties are dental deserts that have zero to one dental provider per 10,000 residents. Not having an adequate number of dentists available imposes a hardship on some populations in their attempts to obtain the dental care that they need.

“A major component of our Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation’s mission is to focus on health outcomes through improvements in access for the residents of Minnesota,” said Rodney Young, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Dental of Minnesota and Chair, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. “We are proud and excited to commit $2,000,000 to this program. We are creating an opportunity to bring dentists to critical shortage areas by addressing a significant portion of the dental student’s debt burdens. We strongly believe our collaboration will attract new dentists to greater Minnesota service areas to live, work and make an important difference in improving the oral health of Minnesotans.”

DMD funds will be used to repay qualifying educational loans for up to ten dentists. Selected recipients must commit to practicing full-time, general dentistry in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in Minnesota and are eligible for up to $200,000 of qualified loan repayment over 5 years. For more information on the DMD program, visit: www.dedicatedmndentists.org.

About Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports Delta Dental of Minnesota's mission of improving health through oral health of the people in Minnesota. Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports initiatives that promote access to oral health for the underserved, especially in rural areas and for people living with low incomes across the state. For more visit www.deltadentalmn.org.