A local Washington news station posted an article urging readers to direct dentists to the Winthrop, Wash., area after the retirement of longtime dentist Stephen Harrop, DDS.
The Jan. 4 article, titled "Winthrop needs dentists," was published by KOZI radio station.
After 25 years in the area and 43 years of dentistry, Dr. Harrop shuttered Winthrop Dental Care on Dec. 31, 2021. The area only has one local dental clinic now: Dr. John O'Keefe's Sawtooth Dental Care in Twisp, Wash. John O'Keefe, DDS, said he had 300 new patients last year, and his clinic isn't accepting any new patients. Dr. O'Keefe told KOZI he now has about 50 patients on a waiting list.
Dr. Harrop said he called providers in nearby areas, and they said they were too full to accept new patients.