Professional opinions in the identification of dental manpower shortage areas

A study was initiated by the Minnesota Dental Association to identify criteria that dental practitioners use in defining a dental manpower shortage area and to determine the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of solutions to the manpower shortage problem. This report from the association presents the study findings. The five factors, in order of importance, that should be considered in a definition of a manpower shortage area are the public's "dental IQ," the ratio of dentists to population, the availability of dental appointment times, the age and productivity of practicing dentists in the area, and the distance patients must travel to the dentist. Minnesota dentists perceived dental placement techniques to be more effective and acceptable than financial incentives or the use of auxiliary personnel in solving the dental manpower shortage problem.