Staffing Issues

Schools and health systems nationwide are drawing up new programs to address the lack of diversity and shortages in the dentistry workforce.

Jacksonville (Fla.) University has launched a three-year program that allows students to earn a Master of Science in dentistry with a certificate in comprehensive oral implantology.

The dental industry must take an active role in combating the staffing shortage and make long-term investments that will shape the size and quality of the labor pool, Forbes reported Feb. 15.

The Hispanic Center for Excellence at UT Health San Antonio is taking steps to ensure patients see themselves represented in dentistry, ABC affiliate KSAT reported Feb. 13.

Wyoming has the fewest number of active dentists with other specialties, seven, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

California has the most periodontists in the nation, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

California has more than 1,000 orthodontists, the most of any state, according to a recent ranking by the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

Vermont has the fewest pedodontists in the nation, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

There are 5,668 active oral surgeons in the U.S., with California having the most at 637, according to a recent ranking by the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

Nationwide, a total of 188,074 U.S. dentists are actively practicing, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.