Dentists in rural areas are much busier than dentists in urban and suburban areas, according to a survey from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
More than one-fourth of dentists in rural areas said they were too busy to treat all individuals requesting an appointment, compared to just 7.4% of dentists in the top 20 cities having that level of busyness.
The ADA's "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" report polled more than 900 dentists on how busy they were during the first quarter of 2024.
Here is how geography impacted busyness levels of dentists:
Top 20 cities
Too busy to treat all people requesting appointments: 7.4%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was overworked: 22.1%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was not overworked: 36.8%
Not busy enough, could have treated more patients: 33.8%
Other urban areas
Too busy to treat all people requesting appointments: 13.1%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was overworked: 24%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was not overworked: 36.1%
Not busy enough, could have treated more patients: 26.8%
Suburban areas
Too busy to treat all people requesting appointments: 22.9%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was overworked: 20.8%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was not overworked: 33.3%
Not busy enough, could have treated more patients: 22.9%
Rural areas
Too busy to treat all people requesting appointments: 26.7%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was overworked: 19.8%
Provided care to all who requested appointments but was not overworked: 32.1%
Not busy enough, could have treated more patients: 21.4%