• Graduated from a U.S.-based or foreign dental school, with the applicant within the first two years of practice since graduation, at the point of initial application submission.

   

• Have qualifying government and/or commercial educational loans (e.g., costs paid for tuition and reasonable expenses related to the education of the participant leading to a degree). Ineligible loans would include those that have been repaid in full, loans that are in default, and loans that are consolidated with other loans owed by another individual.

   

• If currently practicing, demonstrate that the applicant is licensed and actively practicing dentistry a minimum of 32 hours per week in a dental practice or practices located in Rhode Island as a general dentist or dental specialist. For applicants that have accepted employment but not yet begun actively practicing, the commitment of actively practicing dentistry for a minimum of 32 hours per week must be included in the letter submitted by the practice (see application attachments). Eligible practices can be public, for profit, or not for profit.

   

• Demonstrate an existing and/or future commitment to helping meet the dental needs of underserved Rhode Islanders throughout the duration of participation in the loan repayment program. This commitment could encompass the following:
  • Be enrolled as a Medicaid provider and attest to actively participating in and treating patients in the Medicaid program in Rhode Island.
  • Ongoing service obligation of no less than 30 hours annually outside of the applicant’s primary practice that helps meet unmet dental needs for underserved Rhode Islanders (i.e., the Rhode Island Free Clinic, RI Mission of Mercy, Molar Express, etc.).

• Actively participate in the Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) network and remain in good standing with the carrier for the duration of participation in the loan repayment program.

   

• Have not been sanctioned, disciplined, reprimanded, suspended by, or expelled from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, or other federal or state health care programs or otherwise sanctioned by the authorities in the past five (5) years. 

Note: Employees and board members of any dental insurance carrier are not eligible for the program.