Does California Project the Future of Dentistry?

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Labor Economics
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• The U.S. is experiencing a significant shift in dental school demographics, with women projected to become the majority of students.
• Limited empirical research exists on gender-specific labor supply patterns among dentists.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing potential workforce shortages and impacts on dental care access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender disparities in the number of hours worked by dentists.
• To analyze historical trends in these gender-based differences.
• To project the implications for the current and future dental labor supply in California.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of labor supply data for dentists in California.
• Examination of working hours disaggregated by gender.
• Longitudinal analysis to identify trends over time.

Main Results:

• Empirical data on gender differences in dentists' hours worked is presented.
• Trends in these differences over time are quantified.
• Potential impacts on the aggregate dental workforce in California are discussed.

Conclusions:

• The study addresses a critical data gap regarding gender and dentist labor supply.
• Findings provide essential information for health workforce planning in dentistry.
• Understanding these trends is vital for ensuring adequate dental care provision in the future.