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Identifying communities with low dentist supply in California
1Center for California Health Workforce Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 410, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. bethm@itsa.ucsf.edu
Objectives:
This study estimates the supply and geographic distribution of dentists in California and examines the community characteristics associated with supply of dentists.
Methods:
The number of practicing dentists was estimated from American Dental Association data on licensed dentists in California. Each dentist's address was geocoded and matched to a Medical Service Study Area (MSSA). Dentist-to-population ratios were computed, and the association between dentist supply and community characteristics was analyzed in regression models.
Results:
Approximately 20 percent of California communities may have a shortage of dentists. Two-thirds of dental shortage communities are rural. Communities with a lower supply of dentists have higher percentages of minorities, children, and low-income persons. Minority dentists were more likely to practice in minority communities.
Conclusions:
Geographic maldistribution of dentists may contribute to poor access to dental care in many communities, especially in rural, low-income, and minority communities. Minority dentists are more likely to practice in minority communities, but are a small portion of the dental workforce.