Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 310 - Oklahoma State Department of Health
Chapter 526 - Dental Services
Subchapter 3 - Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program
Section 310:526-3-4 - Procedures for administering the Program

(1) Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSA). Dental health professional shortage areas for Oklahoma shall be established by the Commissioner using the following criteria.

(2) Applications. All interested new dental school graduates shall file an application with the Department. This application can be submitted at any time during the year. Applications are available in the Dental Service office of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, in person or online.

(3) Approval by the Department. Applications are reviewed by the Advisory Committee. Following this review, the Advisory Committee forwards their recommendations to the Department. Applications are approved or declined as determined by the Department.

(4) Renewal of loan repayment contracts. The original loan repayment contract may be renewed for up to a total participation in the Program of five (5) years, contingent upon funding from the Legislature and continued approval of the Department based upon the dentist's performance and recommendations of the Advisory Committee if requested.

(5) Advisory Committee. The Department will appoint and convene an Advisory Committee to assist in the dental loan repayment process. The Advisory Committee includes five (5) members with representation from the Oklahoma Dental Association, the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, and the Oklahoma Oral Health Coalition. The Advisory Committee is responsible for reviewing the eligible applicants, as determined by the Department, and making recommendations to the Department. The Department makes the final selection of Program participants.