Political Quotes

“The second concern is the fact that there is a need for additional dental hygienists, but Montana is the only state without a dental hygiene education program. There are currently 333 active licensed dental hygienists in Montana. A survey of all Montana dentists and dental hygienists was conducted late in 1996 which indicated a need for additional hygienists to fill current and future vacancies. The lack of a dental hygienist in a practice reduces the number of hours the dentist is available to deliver care only he or she is able to perform. Licensure as a registered dental hygienist in Montana requires graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program of either two or four years. Montana's only dental hygiene education program was closed in 1989 at Carroll College. Since that time efforts to open a new program have been unsuccessful, but are ongoing. Montana students desiring hygiene degrees must travel out of State. Of the current 28 students at Sheridan Community College in Wyoming, half are from Montana. Montana has fewer dentists per capita than the U.S. average. Many communities, especially rural areas, are losing dentists (to retirements and other factors). A large percentage of Montana dentists are expected to retire in the coming decade, while the number of available dental school graduates has been declining.”