For several years, Limousin has faced a much greater number of dentist departures than the number of installations. In Haute-Vienne, there were 189 dental surgeons last September, or 50 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants. This figure, already lower than the national average, fell further at the end of 2024 with the retirement without replacement of two dentists in Aixe-sur-Vienne, reports France 3 New Aquitaine. However, new aid could help reverse the trend.
A serious situation
“For dentists, if you want to get treatment, you have to go far. There are people who don't have the opportunity to travel, so it's important that we have everything on site.”declared Mayor René Arnaud. However, the situation in Aixe-sur-Vienne is far from being an exception in the region. Apart from Limoges and Saint-Yrieix, all the municipalities are in under-resourced areas in Limousin. In Haute-Vienne, six other dentists left without being replaced at the end of 2024, specifies the local media.
The rest of Limousin is not spared. In Creuse, there were only 28 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants in September 2024, indicates France 3 in another article. “The situation is catastrophic, we must not delude ourselves”noted at the time Pierre Adant, president of the council of the Order of Dentists of Creuse. According to our colleagues, all of this has the effect of reducing the quality of the dental service offered, with long delays sometimes leading to abandonment of care or a worsening of pathologies.
-Insufficient help
In this context of crisis, Limousin has benefited from a new law since January 1, 2025. The latter regulates the installation of dentists by limiting their installation in over-endowed areas such as large cities, excluding replacements. At the same time, aid of 50,000 euros is proposed for installation in an under-resourced area. “The financial boost, even if it does not allow complete installation, will certainly allow some to take the plunge”hopes Sébastien Dapy, secretary general of the council of the Order of Dentists of Haute-Vienne.
Although it is welcome, this aid already appears to be insufficient, the region also suffering from the absence of dental training at the Limoges faculty. As a result, mayors will no doubt also have to put their hands in their pockets.