Benchmarking

New Hampshire has the highest number of dental hygienists per capita out of any state at 105.33 hygienists for every 100,000 residents.

The District of Columbia has the highest number of general dentists per capita at 66.95 dentists for every 100,000 residents. Hawaii is the state with the highest per-capita count at 51.72.

Three-quarters of all dentists in the U.S. work in a dental practice that only has one location, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The percentage of DSO-affiliated dentists in the U.S. slightly increased in 2023 compared to 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute. 

Dentists with less experience are more likely to be affiliated with a DSO, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Fourteen percent of all dentists in the U.S. are affiliated with a DSO, and orthodontists have the highest affiliation percentage among specialty dentists.

Connecticut, the highest-ranked state for dental health, has 40 dental professional shortage areas.

Around one in seven dentists across the U.S., or 14%, are affiliated with a dental service organization, as reported by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Arkansas, the lowest-ranked state for dental health, has more than 120 dental professional shortage areas.

Delaware could be the best state for dentists to retire in, according to a new ranking by Bankrate.