Becker's has reported on several reports and surveys providing data on key aspects of the dental industry, including salary, insurance, workforce and patient care.
Here are 18 stats from this year:
- On a scale of one to five — five indicating extreme burnout and one indicating no burnout — average personal burnout of dental faculty was reported as 2.7 and work-related burnout was 2.8.
- Dental expenses make up more than one-quarter of overall healthcare out-of-pocket expenses and present higher financial barriers than medical, prescription pharmaceutical and mental healthcare.
- The prevalence of untreated oral diseases has grown, affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide.
- Massachusetts has the highest number of active dentists per 100,000 population among the U.S. states.
- Dental offices saw a gain of 4,100 jobs from August to September 2021.
- Sixty-five percent of adults reported that oral health has become more of a priority as a result of the pandemic.
- About 76.5 million adults in the U.S. do not have dental insurance, while Medicare beneficiaries have the largest unmet need for dental coverage.
- Augusta (Ga.) University was named the best university in the U.S. for dental support roles.
- General practice dentists saw a 17.9 percent drop in net income in 2020 compared to 2019.
- Twenty-seven percent of dental providers were using telehealth to see patients in June 2020, compared to 23 percent in August 2020 and 22 percent in March.
- Forty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries did not have a dental visit within the past year as of 2018. This rate was higher among people who were Black, Hispanic, low-income, or in fair or poor health.
- Overall, 96 percent of survey respondents said dental insurance coverage helps them maintain good oral health.
- Dentist, orthodontist, oral/maxillofacial surgeon, dental hygienist, prosthodontist and dental assistant were listed among the best jobs in America.
- The percentage of adults who had a dental visit in 2019 was higher in urban areas (66.7 percent) than in rural areas (57.6 percent).
- The share of dentists ages 55 and older increased from 27 percent in 2001 to a peak of 40 percent in 2013-16. This share dropped to 37 percent in 2020 and is projected to decline to 33 percent in 2040.
- Dental practices saw an average 10 percent decrease in completed hygiene appointments in 2020 compared to 2019.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeon was ranked as one of the highest-earning dental jobs in the U.S. at $208,000 per year.
- Chicago was ranked as the highest earning city for oral surgeons at $273,730, while Florida was listed as the highest earning state at $282,650.