Editorial: A good intention runs into reality

IN theory, a dental school at UNLV would be wonderful for Nevada.

Nevada has one of the worst dentist-to-patient ratios, ranking 46th in the nation. Add to this the state's soaring population and a compelling case can be made for a new dental school.

State Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, believes there are other benefits as well. A dentist himself, Rawson asserts a dental school also would help children. Rawson said there are uninsured children who likely are not getting care by a dentist because cash up front is required. A dental school could be a free resource for many of these indigent children.

The problem is that in this case, at least, theory runs head-on into reality:

First, since 1982, the number of graduates from U.S. dental schools has declined, dropping by about one-third. The trend lately has been for universities to shut down dental schools, not open them. For instance, Georgetown University's dental school has closed and Northwestern University plans on closing its dental school.

Second, budget constraints will play a critical role. Unlike two years ago when the state coffers were flush with money, the tax collections for this two-year budget cycle aren't meeting projections. This means that legislators will be less likely to approve spending on new programs that come with a large operating budget.

It is estimated that a new dental school at UNLV, with an enrollment of 160 students, would cost at least $12 million to build and $6 million to run every year. That $6 million would have to come from some other worthy state program to fund a program of professional training that is facing difficulties elsewhere in the nation.

Maybe someday there will be sufficient funds for a dental school. But unless the 1999 Legislature is willing to find new sources of revenue and raise taxes -- an unlikely proposition -- building and maintaining a new dental school would have to come at someone else's expense. It's no secret that many worthy state programs already operate on shoestring budgets, providing a bare minimum of needed services.

It is expected that the Board of Regents will be asked this week to give the project a higher priority rating on its list of university funding priorities. Despite the benefits a dental school may bring to Nevada, the university system shouldn't give a proposed dental school a higher priority. The reality is that a new dental school probably can't be afforded at this time.

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