Benchmarking

Loans continue to be the main source of debt for dental education, according to data from the American Dental Education Association.

The University of the Pacific's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco has a first-year tuition of $119,360 for both residents and nonresidents, the highest of any U.S. dental school, and has a 7.03 percent acceptance rate.

The average amount of dental school debt has declined in recent years to $286,200, according to data from the American Dental Education Association. 

Pomona, Calif.-based Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine has a 2.5 percent acceptance rate — the lowest among U.S. dental schools — according to academic consulting website BeMo.  

Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry has a 29.4 percent acceptance rate — the highest among U.S. dental schools — according to academic consulting website BeMo.  

The mean hourly wage for oral and maxillofacial surgeons across the U.S. is $148.76, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is significantly higher than the minimum wage in each state.

Anthem was ranked as the best dental insurer for out-of-network coverage, while Humana was named the best for preventive care in Forbes' list of best insurance companies in 2023.

Enrollment by first-year students in accredited dental hygiene programs has increased 4.3 percent since 2018, but dental assistant enrollment has decreased 21.9 percent over the same period, according to data from the ADA.

California has the highest number of dental professional shortage areas in the U.S. with 517 but offers a well-above-average salary for dental hygienists.

California has the highest number of dental professional shortage areas in the U.S. with 517, but has an above average salary for dental assistants.