By Sara Quam
Struggling to keep adequate health services isn't new to most rural areas, but Luverne's plans to maintain dental practices is unique.
The Luverne Economic Development Authority heard from Chamber of Commerce Director Dave Smith in a special Monday morning meeting.
The entire nation has a shortage of dentists, and graduation rates of dental schools can't keep up with demand.
Attracting dentists to Luverne may be more difficult than in other areas of the country, since southwest Minnesota doesn't carry a reputation of economic good fortune.
Luverne has three dentists who keep busy with customers. But with one dentist approaching retirement and others well into their careers, Luverne wants to make sure new dentists consider filling those shoes when the time comes.
Right now, Smith's efforts are limited to marketing the community as a family-friendly place to run a successful practice.
"Is there something we can do to get someone to come into Luverne?" Smith said.
Some cities are actually building practices to combat the shortage of dentists, but Luverne is a long way from that.
Luverne Economic Development Authority Director Tony Chladek is, however, starting to look over former physician recruitment programs to see where dentists might fit in.
LEDA member Keith Erickson said, "Our dentists are just as important to this community as doctors."
The economic impact of one office closing and not being replaced by another dentist is big. The trickle-down effect for lost wages of about four employees and tax losses can reach into the millions of dollars.
Dentists in demand
One of Luverne's practicing dentists, Dr. Bob Kaczrowski, said the marketing plan "makes a lot of sense."
He said his career in dentistry has been positive, even though he's in a smaller town.
"There's a lot of opportunity here," Kaczrowski said. "It’s a good place to raise a family and there's a camaraderie between dentists and their patients. We don't really compete with each other."
Kaczrowski has seen the decline in dentists just locally. When he started in Luverne in 1979, there were five dentists. The population has remained almost constant since then, but dentists haven't.
"Access to dental care is getting tough in out-state Minnesota," he said.
Kaczrowski attributes part of Luverne's decrease in practices to dental hygienists doing some of the work that dentists used to. But overall, dental schools aren't putting out the number of graduates they used to.
Jasper's dentist retired last year, and Edgerton's is scheduled to retire this summer.
Dr. Bill Bollinger in Luverne has said he's waiting to retire, but he wants to make sure his customers have a place to go before he leaves.
As for Kaczrowski, he said, "I'm open to having an associate with me rather than a new dentist having to go solo." The associate could join his office and eventually take over when Kaczrowski is ready to retire.
That option may allow the Chamber's marketing to reach dentists who don't have the ability to purchase their own practices right out of college.
Dental school is long and expensive. Combine that with buying a facility and equipment, and new dentists have a major debt on their hands.
The industry, though profitable, requires large start-up costs, and most dentists own their own practices rather than joining an existing company.
The Chamber will send marketing information to upcoming graduates of dental schools and hope that Luverne's assets will overshadow any misgivings new dentists may have about locating in rural Minnesota.