TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A group of dental associations hopes to attract dentists to underserved areas of Kansas with an offer to help young practitioners pay off their loans.

The Kansas Dental Association and the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation announced the loan repayment program Thursday. It's patterned on a similar initiative program in Iowa.

The Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation is pledging up to $150,000 a year for three years to the program. The Kansas Initiative for New Dentists will target new students enrolled in regional dental schools.

An oversight committee will review applications for the loan repayment program.

Kansas health officials have identified several communities as underserved by dentists, including Greensburg, Medicine Lodge, Coldwater, Sublette, Satanta, Ness City and Sharon Springs. Those and other communities will be targeted for participating new dentists.