U.S. dentistry gets younger as women dentists transform the workforce
CHICAGO: The U.S. dental workforce is undergoing a major transformation, marked by a younger generation of professionals and a significant rise in women dentists. According to the latest report from the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Health Policy Institute (HPI), women accounted for nearly 40 per cent of practicing dentists in 2024, compared to just 16 per cent in 2001. Among dentists aged 35 and younger, almost half are women, highlighting a generational and gender shift across the profession.
Marko Vujicic, PhD, ADA chief economist and HPI vice-president, noted:
“A younger and more diverse workforce means the shift from solo practice to group practice and dental support organizations, a trend underway for over a decade, will continue.” Younger dentists, he added, are delaying ownership and more frequently choosing group practices after graduation.
Key trends shaping U.S. dentistry
The HPI report outlines several structural changes affecting the profession:
- Practice models: A steady move away from solo practice toward group practice and dental support organizations.
- Financial pressures: Dentists across specialties face declining incomes, creating new challenges for established professionals.
- Retirement patterns: While dentists are retiring later than before, the baby boomer retirement wave is easing.
- Workforce growth: Enrolment in dental schools has reached record highs, ensuring workforce expansion in coming years.
The report covers workforce demographics, practice settings, economic conditions, and future projections, with state-level insights included.
Global comparisons in dentistry
The U.S. is not alone in experiencing gender shifts within dentistry. In Finland, women represent around 75 per cent of the dental workforce, one of the highest globally, according to the FDI World Dental Federation. In Russia, women account for approximately 48 per cent of practicing dentists.
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Canada has also seen rapid growth in female representation, with women making up about 40 per cent of dentists as of 2021. The Canadian Dental Association projects gender parity by 2035, a significant change from earlier decades when only 16.7 per cent of dentists were women.
The future of the profession
As the workforce becomes younger, more diverse, and increasingly female, U.S. dentistry is expected to see continued evolution in practice structures, economic models, and patient care delivery. The ADA’s HPI will continue monitoring these developments to inform policymakers, educators, and dental professionals.
Stay informed. Stay ahead.
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