Dentists averaged over 3,616 patient visits in 2023, a slight drop from the more than 3,798 average visits dentists had in 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
The average number of patient visits including dental hygienist appointments for all dentists in 2023 was 3,616.4, the lowest since 2021. The highest average number of visits was in 2001, when dentists averaged more than 4,000 patient visits.
Data was collected from the ADA's 2024 "Survey of Dental Practice," which surveyed 60,975 private practice dentists in the U.S.
Here is the number of patient visits dentists have averaged each year since 2000:
Note: Data was not available for 2020.
2000: 3,920.8 visits
2001: 4,028.7 visits
2002: 3,796.9 visits
2003: 3,927.2 visits
2004: 3,897.1 visits
2005: 3,614.5 visits
2006: 3,795.6 visits
2007: 3,916.7 visits
2008: 3,681.6 visits
2009: 3,547.8 visits
2010: 3,725.1 visits
2011: 3,450.6 visits
2012: 3,190.2 visits
2013: 3,317.2 visits
2014: 3,306.6 visits
2015: 3,690.2 visits
2016: 3,686.7 visits
2017: 3,707.1 visits
2018: 3,566.4 visits
2019: 3,298.8 visits
2021: 3,738.1 visits
2022: 3,798.4 visits
2023: 3,616.4 visits