New mexico

Our Mission

Founded by Zach Ganshaw, a born-and-raised Albuquerque native with over five years of experience in a private dental practice, New Mexico Oral Health Access Network, Inc. exists to revolutionize access to dental care across rural New Mexico. Our mission is to use teledentistry to deliver preventive guidance, emergency pain relief, including prescribing medication when needed, and treatment options to all, regardless of insurance status or ability to travel.Too many New Mexicans wait until it's too late to address oral health issues—often due to fear, anxiety, insufficient oral health education, or limited access. Through virtual consultations, we empower people to receive education, early intervention, and compassionate care from the comfort of their homes.

Why it matters

1. Rural Access CrisisNew Mexico has among the lowest population densities in the U.S., and much of the state is designated as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area. Nearly 900,000 New Mexicans lack access to adequate dental care. Seniors and disabled adults in particular face significant transportation barriers that prevent them from reaching a dental office.2. Dental Anxiety and AvoidanceFear of the dentist is a powerful deterrent. Research shows that 12–15% of adults experience high dental anxiety, with another 3–15% meeting clinical definitions of dental phobia. Nearly 10% of adults admit they avoid care due to anxiety, and more than half of U.S. adults report dental problems yet do not seek treatment.3. Medicaid Access GapFor New Mexicans on Medicaid, access remains limited—fewer than half of beneficiaries use their dental benefits, often because they cannot find in-network providers or local clinics.4. Preventive Intervention ImpactTeledentistry allows early detection of issues in children, helping to prevent cavities, improve oral hygiene behaviors, and reduce future tooth loss. Preventive dental care is especially rare in rural areas; teledentistry provides a bridge to services where traditional clinics cannot reach.5. Mental Health & Oral Health IntersectLower socioeconomic status is linked to poorer oral health and higher rates of anxiety and depression. Making dental consultations more accessible not only helps oral health but also reduces the psychological stress of untreated problems.

Get involved

Through my time and experience working in the dental field, I have seen countless otherwise healthy patients lose teeth or face emergency procedures that could have been avoided with earlier guidance. Many suffer from fear, lack of oral health education, financial barriers, or limited transportation. That is why, as CEO, I founded this nonprofit—to give New Mexicans a voice in their oral health and help them make informed decisions before pain and loss become irreversible.
We believe access to oral health is a right, not a privilege. Whether you’re a health center leader, provider, policymaker, or community member, you can play a role in bringing this vision to life.📧 Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about partnering or supporting our work.

Sources:

CareQuest Institute. Americans Are Still Not Getting the Dental Care They Need. 2022.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Mental Health Impacts Dental Health.” CDC, 2024.Delta Dental of New Mexico. “Oral Healthcare in Rural New Mexico.” Delta Dental Blog, 2024.New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee. Dental Therapists Report. Sept. 2021.New Mexico Voices for Children. The State of Oral Health in New Mexico. 2020.National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. Rural Transportation Challenges. 2023.National Library of Medicine. “Dental Anxiety: Prevalence and Impact.” PMC, 2023.