SEC. 2215. TRAINING FOR GENERAL, PEDIATRIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS.

Title VII [42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.] is amended--

[1] in section 791[a][1], by striking '747 and 750' and inserting '747, 749, and 750'; and

[2] by inserting after section 748, as added, the following:

'SEC. 749. TRAINING FOR GENERAL, PEDIATRIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS.

'[a] Program- The Secretary shall establish a dental medicine training program consisting of awarding grants and contracts under this section.

'[b] Support and Development of Dental Training Programs- The Secretary shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities--

'[1] to plan, develop, operate, or participate in an accredited professional training program for oral health professionals;

'[2] to provide financial assistance to oral health professionals who are in need thereof, who are participants in any such program, and who plan to work in general, pediatric, or public heath dentistry, or dental hygiene;

'[3] to plan, develop, operate, or participate in a program for the training of oral health professionals who plan to teach in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, or dental hygiene;

'[4] to provide financial assistance in the form of traineeships and fellowships to oral health professionals who plan to teach in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry or dental hygiene;

'[5] to establish, maintain, or improve--

'[A] academic administrative units [including departments, divisions, or other appropriate units] in the specialties of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry; or

'[B] programs that improve clinical teaching in such specialties;

'[6] to plan, develop, operate, or participate in predoctoral and postdoctoral training in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry programs, or training for dental hygienists;

'[7] to plan, develop, operate, or participate in a loan repayment program for full-time faculty in a program of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry; and

'[8] to provide technical assistance to pediatric dental training programs in developing and implementing instruction regarding the oral health status, dental care needs, and risk-based clinical disease management of all pediatric populations with an emphasis on underserved children.

'[c] Eligibility- To be eligible for a grant or contract under subsection [a], an entity shall be--

'[1] an accredited school of dentistry, training program in dental hygiene, or public or nonprofit private hospital;

'[2] a training program in dental hygiene at an accredited institution of higher education;

'[3] a public or private nonprofit entity; or

'[4] a consortium of--

'[A] 2 or more of the entities described in paragraphs [1] through [3]; and

'[B] an accredited school of public health.

'[d] Preference- In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following:

'[1] Training the greatest percentage, or significantly improving the percentage, of oral health professionals who practice general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.

'[2] Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.

'[3] A high rate of placing graduates in practice settings having the principal focus of serving in underserved areas or populations experiencing health disparities [including serving patients eligible for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or for child health assistance under title XXI of such Act or those with special health care needs].

'[4] Supporting teaching programs that address the dental needs of vulnerable populations.

'[5] Providing instruction regarding the oral health status, dental care needs, and risk-based clinical disease management of all pediatric populations with an emphasis on underserved children.

'[e] Report- The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report on the program carried out under this section.

'[f] Definition- In this section:

'[1] The term 'health disparities' has the meaning given the term in section 3171.

'[2] The term 'oral health professional' means an individual training or practicing--

'[A] in general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, public health dentistry, or dental hygiene; or

'[B] another dental medicine specialty, as deemed appropriate by the Secretary.'.