On September 30, 2025, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Health Care Workforce Expansion Act, which seeks to address shortages in the health care workforce, including dentistry. The bill contains several provisions, including: (1) making tuition at nonprofit dental schools free for students who commit to practicing as general dentists in rural communities; (2) investing over $5 billion in medical, nursing and dental schools to increase enrollment, recruit and retain faculty, modernize clinical and classroom spaces, and more; (3) providing $20,000 relocation grants to doctors, dentists and nurses who commit to practicing in rural communities; (4) adding 50,000 new slots to the Medicare Graduate Medical Education program; and (5) expanding the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program. 

The bill text can be found here. 

Impact on General Dentistry: According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 58 million Americans live in a dental health workforce shortage area, with rural communities being disproportionately affected. These shortages limit access to essential dental care and contribute to disparities in oral health outcomes. AGD strongly supports efforts to strengthen the dental health workforce and improve access to care.