Here are five statistics Becker’s has reported on in recent months that could lead to future roadblocks in the dental industry:
1. Nearly 66% of dentists have increased their fees this year, according to the American Dental Association’s “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report for the third quarter of 2025.
2. Dental school tuition has increased by 26.5% for residents and 18% for nonresidents since 2017.
3. Removing fluoride from U.S. public water systems would lead to a 7.5% increase in tooth decay and cost at least $9.8 billion over five years, according to a study published May 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
4. The average net income for general practice dentists in 2024 was $207,980, a decrease of more than $17,000 from 2023, according to data from the ADA.
5. More than 70% of dentists reported the recruitment of hygienists as being “extremely challenging” in the ADA’s third-quarter economic report.
