An analytical method for regional dental manpower training.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Dental Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Traditional dental manpower planning relies on geopolitical boundaries and normative ratios.
• Existing methods may lack flexibility and sensitivity in reflecting actual dental service needs.
• Health Systems Agencies require effective tools for regional dental workforce planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an analytical method for dental manpower planning adaptable for Health Systems Agencies.
• To introduce Dental Service Areas (DSAs) as a planning unit that disregards geopolitical boundaries.
• To develop and demonstrate the Dental Manpower Balance Model (DMBM) for assessing dentist supply and demand.

Main Methods:

• Defined Dental Service Areas (DSAs) by aggregating Minor Civil Divisions based on population mobility and dentist distribution.
• Developed the Dental Manpower Balance Model (DMBM) utilizing sociodemographic data for demand calculation.
• Employed age-adjusted productivity measures to determine the effective supply of dentists.

Main Results:

• The proposed DSA-based method provides a more flexible and sensitive approach to dental workforce planning.
• A case study in Northeastern New York demonstrated the practical application and benefits of the DMBM.
• The model effectively calculates potential shortages or surpluses of dentists within defined service areas.

Conclusions:

• The analytical method offers a superior alternative to normative ratio methods for dental manpower planning.
• The DSA approach enhances the accuracy and responsiveness of health system planning for dental services.
• This model supports data-driven decision-making for optimizing dental workforce distribution and addressing regional needs.