Benchmarking

More than 24 million Americans live in dental care shortage areas, according to a Dec. 23 study published by JAMA Network.

Dental spending in the U.S. increased by $4 billion between 2022 and 2023, according to data from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute.

Delaware currently has the fewest dental professional shortage areas in the U.S., according to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration.

California currently has the most dental professional shortage areas in the U.S., according to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration.

There were 30 more dental schools in the U.S. in 2023 than there were in 1950, according to data from the American Dental Association.

Nearly two-thirds of dental school applicants were accepted in 1980 compared to less than 60% in 2023, according to data from the American Dental Association.

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston graduated the highest number of students among U.S. dental schools for the 2023-24 academic year, according to data from the American Dental Association.

Six dental schools saw a decrease in their average four-year tuition between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, according to data from the American Dental Association.

One-quarter of dentists were too busy to treat all patients that requested care in the past 12 months, according to a survey from the American Dental Association. 

Fifty-three dental schools saw increased tuition between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, according to data from the American Dental Association: