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Demographic insights into the periodontology workforce in Saudi Arabia: A descriptive study
Hussam M Alqahtani1,2, Majed K Alshehri1,2
1Department of Preventive Dental Science, College of Dentistry, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Objective:
This study assessed the demographic characteristics of the periodontal workforce in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
This was a retrospective study of periodontists practicing in Saudi Arabia from January 2000 through May 2023. The data were requested from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and included the number of periodontists and dentists, the number of Saudi and non-Saudi periodontists, the sex distribution of periodontists, their ranking, and the geographic distribution across the 13 regions.
Results:
This study identified 700 practicing periodontists, representing 2.2 periodontists per 100,000 people. Consultant periodontists composed 31% of the population, mostly Saudi nationals. Approximately 53% of practicing periodontists resided in Saudi Arabia, mostly in the Riyadh, Makkah, and Eastern Provinces. Al Bahah, Najran, and the Northern Borders had fewer periodontists.
Conclusion:
This study provides valuable insights into shaping the periodontal workforce in Saudi Arabia. Future studies on the factors related to the periodontology workforce can assist policymakers in implementing effective strategies to significantly improve the current workforce.
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