Factors influencing the choice of practice location for recent dental graduates

A survey of factors that influenced the selection of practice location was carried out among 1971 dental school graduates. The decision process involved in this selection is a complex phenomenon that involves many personal and community value judgments. The two most important stated reasons appear to be geographic preference and recreational and cultural advantages. As in previous surveys of this type, the place of rearing seems to exert a strong influence, although less than 25% of the respondents indicated this in their three choices of most influential factors. In point of fact, however, 47% of the respondents did locate their practice near their place of rearing. This is further reinforced by the place of rearing of their spouses, if they were married. The respondent's father's occupation had some influence, but this was less significant than the other factors. Choice of specialty in all areas except dental public health, oral pathology, and orthodontics strongly influenced the respondent toward an urban practice. More rural dentists, as one would expect, were self-employed and without a partner.