Introduction.Changes in the socio-political structure of the state, which occurred at the end of the XX century, determined the prerequisites for the formation of a shortage of doctors and secondary medical personnel in rural areas, which led to a decrease in the availability of medical, including dental, care to the population. Aim: to determine the significance of the influence of socio-economic factors on the motivation of dentists to find employment in rural areas. Materials and methods. The analysis of questionnaires of graduates of the Belgorod State National Research University of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Belgorod (BelSU) and the Northern State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia Arkhangelsk (SSMU) who received diplomas of a dentist in 2017 and 2021 was carried out. The gender and age characteristics are given and the social status of specialists is assessed. Results and discussion. Based on the compiled rating of the reasons that caused the reluctance of graduates of dental faculties to associate their future life with work in rural areas, a clear pattern was revealed. Regardless of the year of graduation and place of study, all respondents indicated an insufficiently developed infrastructure formed in rural areas. The lack of the desired equipment of workplaces is cited as the second most important reason among 74.0% of respondents of BelSU and 80.0% of respondents of SSMU. "Lower level of earnings" was the third reason indicated in 70.0% and 61.5% of the questionnaires of graduates of BelSU and SSMU, respectively. This reason characterizes the level of earnings both in the dental departments of the CRH and in private dental offices, and indirectly refutes the stated motive of "the desire to help people", indicated by a large number of students, as the main one when choosing a profession. The agreement on subsequent employment in an office where students work in their free time was called a significant reason by 21.0% of Belgorod students. Transport problems that determine the possibility of reaching cities were called significant by 16.5% of SSMU graduates. Conclusion. At the moment, the problem of providing rural areas with qualified dentists is quite acute. The efforts of universities and the Zemsky Doctor program implemented by the state are currently not a tool that significantly affects the staffing of dentists in rural areas. The data obtained can be used in the development of new personnel projects by regional ministries of health.