As of 2019, 83 percent of dental school graduates had student loan debt, according to the Education Data Initiative.
Benchmarking
California had the highest number of employed dental hygienists in 2020, while Idaho had the highest concentration of hygienists per 1,000 jobs.
On average, Alaska is the highest-paying state for dental hygienists.
On average, Minnesota is the highest-paying state for dental assistants.
California had the highest number of employed dental assistants in 2020, while Utah had the highest concentration of dental assistants per 1,000 jobs.
Dental hygienists are a key part of the industry's workforce, examining patients for signs of oral diseases and providing preventive care.
Massachusetts has the highest number of active dentists per 100,000 population among the U.S. states, according to data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Delta Dental, Humana and DentaQuest are among the top dental insurance companies in the U.S., according to an Oct. 18 ranking by Money magazine.
Two dental companies were named to Forbes' 2021 list of the 750 best employers in the world.
In 2020, the national Medicaid reimbursement rate was, on average, 60.9 percent of private insurance reimbursement for child dental services, according to new data released by the American Dental Association.