The states ranked for having the best dental health vary in the number of dentists, average salary and reimbursements rates for dental care.
Becker's compiled data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics's May 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the American Dental Association, the Kaiser Family Foundation's dentist supply and shortage area rankings.
Top 10 states with the best dental health
Connecticut
Average annual salary: $197,910
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 37.5 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 67.2 percent
No. of dentists: 1,745
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 38
Washington, D.C.
Average annual salary: $181,410
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 77.3 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 79.6 percent
No. of dentists: 474
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 12
Massachusetts
Average annual salary: $175,140
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 50.8 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 69.9 percent
No. of dentists: 3,870
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 56
Hawaii
Average annual salary: $177,820
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: N/A
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 51.4 percent
No. of dentists: 718
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 33
New Jersey
Average annual salary: N/A
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: N/A
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 73.9 percent
No. of dentists: 5,407
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 35
Illinois
Average annual salary: $136,930
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 38.2 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 46.8 percent
No. of dentists: 6,455
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 208
Washington
Average annual salary: $182,050
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 34.8 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 38.3 percent
No. of dentists: 3,894
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 173
Iowa
Average annual salary: $183,710
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 47.9 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 47.3 percent
No. of dentists: 1,106
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 131
Michigan
Average annual salary: $178,250
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 31.9 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 37.7 percent
No. of dentists: 4,252
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 243
Ohio
Average annual salary: $180,920
Medicaid reimbursement for adult dental care: 50.1 percent
Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric dental care: 44 percent
No. of dentists: 4,354
No. of designated dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 145