Many Coloradans living in rural areas of the state have difficulty getting access to oral health care because of an overall shortage of practicing dentists. To obtain an accurate and current picture of the state's rural dentist workforce, including training and practice issues related to recruiting dentists to work in rural areas, the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) was asked by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Oral Health Program to survey Colorado's rural dentists.

In July 2008, CHI sent a survey questionnaire to all individuals holding an active dentist license and practicing in rural areas of Colorado. Responses were received from 251 rural dentists or 70 percent.

Expand the menu below for related publications and presentations from the survey.

The research data file is available to researchers who have received approval from the Colorado Health Institute Review Committee to use the micro–level data from the survey for legitimate research purposes.

• Research file application

The public use file (PUF) is available to researchers and data analysts who have completed the Data Use Agreement.

• Public Use File registration and data file 

Also see:

• 2008 Rural Dentist Survey Form
• 2008 Rural Dentist Survey Cover Letter