Here are 13 headlines and statistics on the state of dentistry in Minnesota in 2024:
- Minnesota legislators are considering a bill that would allow the state to join an interstate compact to alleviate workforce shortages.
- Woodbury (Minn.) Dental Arts, which abruptly closed, was forced to do so after the owner had his dental license suspended and ran out of money.
- Lawmakers in Minnesota introduced legislation to create a $20 million grant appropriation designated for dental hygiene and dental assisting programs.
- The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry's special needs healthcare clinic received a $100,000 grant to improve patient care and accessibility.
- A Minnesota dental office was investigated by the state for allegedly paying for fake five-star ratings online.
- Dental practices in Minnesota are facing major scheduling backlogs, mainly due to the lack of available dental hygienists.
- Dental lab NorthStar Orthodontics in Park Rapids, Minn., permanently closed Jan. 15.
- Dental offices in Minnesota generate $9.76 billion annually.
- There are 3,352 total dentists in Minnesota, according to the American Dental Association.
- Dentists in Minnesota earn $191,090 on average, dental hygienists make $84,810 and dental assistants earn $58,890, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The average cost to visit an oral surgeon in Minnesota is between $93 to $138.
- Minnesota has 185 dental professional shortage areas.
- There is one dental school in the state: University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis.