In most U.S. communities, there is one dentist for about every 2,000 residents, but in El Paso, that ratio falls to one in 5,482, Rene Rosas, DDS, wrote in the El Paso Times.
Texas officials are now budgeting for a new dental school at the University of Texas at El Paso. According to Dr. Rosas, the time the time is right for the community to add a dental program. Dr. Rosas, a native Texan, cited that about 75 percent of Texas dental school graduates stay in the area.
"Currently, many of Texas' existing dentists are approaching retirement," Dr. Rosas wrote. "Look at me: I’m 87. I retired for the first time 27 years ago, but I could not ignore the need in our community. So, 25 years ago, I came out of retirement to join the practice at Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, a medical and dental community center for El Paso's low-income population.
The new dental school will feature a public clinic where students will gain real-life experiences treating patients who might not otherwise have access to care.
"A new dental school in Texas is long overdue, and the fact that there are none in the entire western half of the state is an oversight that has long needed correction," Dr. Rosas added.
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Texas officials are now budgeting for a new dental school at the University of Texas at El Paso. According to Dr. Rosas, the time the time is right for the community to add a dental program. Dr. Rosas, a native Texan, cited that about 75 percent of Texas dental school graduates stay in the area.
"Currently, many of Texas' existing dentists are approaching retirement," Dr. Rosas wrote. "Look at me: I’m 87. I retired for the first time 27 years ago, but I could not ignore the need in our community. So, 25 years ago, I came out of retirement to join the practice at Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, a medical and dental community center for El Paso's low-income population.
The new dental school will feature a public clinic where students will gain real-life experiences treating patients who might not otherwise have access to care.
"A new dental school in Texas is long overdue, and the fact that there are none in the entire western half of the state is an oversight that has long needed correction," Dr. Rosas added.
More articles on dental:
Dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists are the highest paid workers in these states
SmileDirectClub partners with UnitedHealthcare, Aetna
CVS to open hundreds of SmileDirectClub shops in stores