The State‘s dental public health program shall encourage the expansion of current educational and training programs for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants targeted to serve citizens’ unmet needs, particularly in the rural and low-income areas that have traditionally had problems in accessing dental care. The program shall also promote and encourage the recruitment of in-State and out-of-state private sector dental personnel to work in these dental health professional shortage areas. (2002-37, s. 1.)