The U.S. dental workforce entering 2026 looks meaningfully different than a generation ago. The dentist headcount continues to grow, but geographic distribution remains uneven, with tens of millions of people still living in shortage areas.1,2
At the same time, the profession is shifting demographically and structurally: women represent a rising share of practicing dentists and a majority of recent graduates, while practice models continue moving toward group settings, including DSOs.1,3
Technology and policy are also reshaping daily work. Digital workflows and imaging are now standard in many practices, teledentistry remains a meaningful access lever (with evolving federal rules), and FDA-cleared AI is increasingly part of modern radiographic and CBCT review processes.4-6
How the U.S. dental profession has evolved
Historically a profession rooted in apprenticeship-based training, dentistry in the U.S. moved to formal education anchored in university systems almost 200 years ago, setting the foundation for today’s workforce and practice model shifts.
- 1840: Formal dental education began in the U.S. when Maryland chartered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.12
- 1867: Harvard established the first university-based dental program, reflecting the broader shift toward university affiliation.12
- 20th to 21st century: The profession increasingly standardized training, expanded specialization, and adopted more technology-driven clinical workflows (including digital imaging and, now, FDA-cleared assistive AI tools).1,12
Demographics of the U.S. dentist workforce (2024)
A clear picture of who dentists are, and where they practice, helps explain changing practice models, persistent access gaps, and where demand is likely to remain strongest.
Size of the workforce and density
In 2024, 202,485 dentists were professionally active in the U.S., a national density of 59.5 dentists per 100,000 people.1
Dentist-to-population ratios vary substantially by state. For example, the ADA reports a low of 40.2 dentists per 100,000 people in Arkansas and a high of 103.2 in the District of Columbia, with several Northeast states above the national average (for example, Massachusetts at 78.2 and New Jersey at 75.2).1
Age, retirement, and career span
The ADA reports that dentists are exiting the workforce later than in prior decades. Among dentists who retired in 2024, the average retirement age was 68.7, up from 64.7 in 2001, and the average career span for 2024 retirees was 41.3 years.1
Gender
The gender balance continues to shift. In 2024, 38.5% of dentists were female, up from 16% in 2001.1
Pipeline data suggests the trend will continue. The ADA reports that 55.6% of 2024 graduates were female, and women have represented at least half of graduating classes since 2019.1
Race and ethnicity
The workforce is diversifying, but it still does not reflect the broader U.S. population. The ADA reports (2024) the dentist workforce as 67.0% White, 20.4% Asian, 6.1% Hispanic, 3.9% Black, and 2.6% other/unknown.1
Pipeline and dental schools
The educational pipeline has expanded, supporting longer-term workforce supply, even as distribution challenges persist.
- Predoctoral enrollment: 27,920 (2024–25)13
- 2024 graduates: 6,872 13
- Number of dental schools: The ADA reports 72 dental schools in 2023, up from 56 in 1990, reflecting a long-term expansion driven largely by openings since the late 1990s.14
How and where dentists work (practice models)
The practice environment has shifted meaningfully over the last two decades. While solo practice once dominated, consolidation toward group practices and DSOs continues to reshape employment and ownership pathways.
Group practice ascendant
By 2024, the ADA reports that about two in three dentists were in group practice.1
This shift aligns with the realities of modern care delivery: staffing scale, shared overhead, and investment in technology and systems are often easier to manage in multi-dentist environments.
DSO affiliation up sharply
DSO affiliation has increased substantially. The ADA reports it reached 16.1% of dentists in 2024, up from earlier levels in the 2010s.1
Early-career dynamics
Career pathways are diverging by cohort. The ADA’s ownership research brief highlights that younger dentists are far less likely to be in solo practice than older cohorts, and DSO affiliation is more common early in a career.3
What this means in practice: recruiting, compensation expectations, and ownership models increasingly differ by career stage, and organizations that can reduce administrative burden may remain attractive entry points for new dentists.1,3
Wages and jobs
Compensation in dentistry remains well above the U.S. median, but pay and outlook vary by role, specialty, and geography. BLS benchmarks are the standard national reference.
Dentists
BLS reports median annual pay of $179,210 (May 2024) and projects 4% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, translating to about 4,500 openings per year (growth plus replacement needs).7
Dental hygienists
BLS reports median annual pay of $94,260 (May 2024) and projects 7% growth (2024–2034), with about 15,300 openings per year.8
Dental assistants
BLS reports median annual pay of $47,300 (May 2024) and projects 6% growth (2024–2034), with about 52,900 openings per year.9
Regional wage differences remain meaningful. High-cost-of-living areas often report higher wages, but payer mix, staffing availability, and operating costs can materially influence compensation and hiring dynamics.7-9
By the numbers: U.S. dental workforce pay and outlook (2024–2034)
Technology and skills shaping roles (21st century)
Digital tools influence how cases are planned, how teams divide work, and how consistently care is delivered at scale.
CBCT
CBCT expanded common dental imaging use cases from 2D into 3D assessment, supporting treatment planning across implants, endodontics, orthodontics, and other indications where anatomy and spatial relationships matter.15
AI in imaging
The FDA has cleared dental AI that assists clinicians with both 2D and 3D imaging review. Pearl’s Second Opinion received 510(k) clearance for 2D intraoral radiograph assistive analysis (K210365, 2022) and for CBCT assistive software (K243989, 2025).4,5
These clearances support a regulated role for AI as an assistive tool that can help flag potential findings for clinician review, not replace clinical judgment.4,5
Teledentistry and telehealth policy status
Federal telehealth rules have remained a moving target. Current federal guidance indicates key Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended through Jan 30, 2026, with additional nuance by service type and setting.6
Medicare dental policy (medical-dental integration)
Medicare covers certain dental services when they are inextricably linked to covered medical care, and CMS has established specific billing expectations for those scenarios. CMS guidance and related implementation materials describe required claim elements (including diagnosis coding and modifiers) for applicable dental claims.10,11
Outlook: 2026–2034
Looking ahead, the core story remains consistent: the supply of dentists is expected to keep growing, but distribution and access will remain uneven. HRSA’s most recent quarterly summary still places tens of millions of people in shortage areas, and the additional provider need remains substantial.2
Meanwhile, the profession is becoming more female, practice models are consolidating, and technology-enabled workflows (including CBCT, teledentistry, and FDA-cleared AI) are increasingly part of baseline operational expectations.1,4-6
BLS projects steady growth for dentists and faster growth for key team roles, reinforcing the importance of staffing models that support preventive throughput, consistent imaging review processes, and efficient delegation.7-9
FAQs
How many dentists currently practice in the United States?
The ADA reports 202,485 professionally active dentists in 2024, equal to 59.5 per 100,000 people.1
How many new dental grads enter the workforce each year?
The ADA reports 6,872 graduates in 2024, and women represented 55.6% of the graduating class.1,13
What share of dentists are women?
Women represented 38.5% of practicing dentists in 2024 (up from 16% in 2001).1
How fast are dentist jobs growing and what do dentists earn?
BLS projects 4% growth (2024–2034) with about 4,500 openings per year. Median pay was $179,210 in May 2024.7
How many people live in dental shortage areas?
HRSA’s most recent quarterly summary reports 63.7 million people in dental HPSAs and estimates 10,744 providers are needed to remove the shortage designation (as of Dec 31, 2025).2
References
- American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute (2025) The U.S. dentist workforce: 2025 update. Chicago, IL: ADA Foundation. Available at:
https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/us_dentist_workforce_2025.pdf - Health Resources and Services Administration (2026) Designated health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) statistics: Designated HPSA quarterly summary (Dental), as of 31 December 2025. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at:
https://data.hrsa.gov/default/generatehpsaquarterlyreport - American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute (2025) Practice ownership trends in dentistry: A new look at old data. Research brief, June 2025. Chicago, IL: ADA Foundation. Available at:
https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/practice_ownership_trends_dentistry_new_look_old_data.pdf - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2022) 510(k) premarket notification K210365: Second Opinion® (2D intraoral radiograph assistive analysis). Silver Spring, MD: FDA. Available at:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf21/K210365.pdf - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2025) 510(k) premarket notification K243989: Second Opinion® 3D (CBCT assistive software). Silver Spring, MD: FDA. Available at:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf24/K243989.pdf - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2025) Telehealth policy updates. Washington, DC: HHS. Available at:
https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/telehealth-policy/telehealth-policy-updates - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) Dentists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor. Available at:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) Dental hygienists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor. Available at:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) Dental assistants. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor. Available at:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2025) Medicare dental coverage: Coverage of dental services that are inextricably linked to covered medical care. Baltimore, MD: CMS. Available at:
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/dental - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2025) Calendar year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule: Dental claims requirements for inextricably linked services. Baltimore, MD: CMS. Available at:
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2025-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-final-rule - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (1995) Dental education at the crossroads: Challenges and change. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232261/ - American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute (2025) Dental education: Enrollment and graduates (2024–25). Chicago, IL: ADA Foundation. Available at:
https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dental-education - American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute (2024) Trends in U.S. dental schools. Chicago, IL: ADA Foundation. Available at:
https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/trends_us_dental_schools_2024.pdf - StatPearls Publishing (2025) Dental cone beam computed tomography. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592390/
