Dentist workforce trends in a primarily rural state: Iowa: 1997-2007

Area of Science:

• Dental workforce analysis
• Public health surveillance
• Healthcare workforce trends

Background:

• State dental boards lack comprehensive dentist demographic and practice data.
• An enhanced surveillance system was developed to monitor Iowa's dentists.
• This system addresses limitations in existing dental workforce data collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the creation and ongoing monitoring of an enhanced dental surveillance system in Iowa.
• To analyze demographic and practice characteristics of Iowa dentists.
• To identify trends in the dental workforce.

Main Methods:

• The Iowa Dentist Tracking System (IDTS) collected data from 1997 onwards.
• Data included demographics, education, practice arrangements, location, and work hours.
• Semiannual telephone updates and annual committee reviews ensured data accuracy and trend monitoring.

Main Results:

• The Iowa dentist workforce remained stable from 1997-2007.
• A significant number of dentists are projected to retire in the next decade, potentially causing provider shortages, particularly in rural areas.
• Young female dentists are more likely to work part-time than young male dentists.

Conclusions:

• The IDTS serves as a model for tracking dental workforce trends at various levels.
• An aging dentist population in Iowa may impact dental care accessibility, especially in rural regions.
• Workforce tracking systems are crucial for informing policy decisions regarding dentist numbers, distribution, and productivity.