The number of graduates from doctorate of dental surgery and dental medicine programs increased 6.8 percent from 2017 to 2021, according to the American Dental Association's "Dental Education Program Enrollment and Graduates Report: 2021-22."
Data for the report was collected using a fall 2021 survey conducted by the ADA Health Policy Institute. The survey was sent to all 68 accredited dental school programs in the U.S. All Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited dental education programs are required to complete the surveys annually to maintain CODA accreditation.
Number of graduates from accredited doctorate of dental surgery and dental medicine programs over five years:
2017: 6,238
2018: 6,305
2019: 6,350
2020: 6,609
2021: 6,665