Women in Dental Education: A 12-Year Analysis

The underrepresentation of women in academic dentistry is an obstacle to gender parity. This study examines trends in the proportion of women in dental faculty roles by academic rank and age, hypothesizing an upward trend in senior academic roles over time.

De-identified aggregated data from the American Dental Education Association Survey of Dental School Faculty from 66 U.S. CODA-accredited dental schools were classified according to gender, age, and academic rank between 2011 and 2023. Prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals evaluated the relative representation of women and men in junior and senior academic ranks and according to age group.

Women made up ∼36.2% of academic staff, increasing from 32.9% in 2011-12 to 43.8% in 2022-23. Compared with men, women were overrepresented in junior academic ranks (PRs between 1.32 and 2.42) but underrepresented in senior ranks (PRs between 0.60 and 0.80). Increases by 4.7% and 23.9% were observed among women in associate professor and full professor roles, respectively. Women aged 20-39 were overrepresented in junior ranks (PRs between 1.14 and 1.95), while those over 60 were underrepresented in both junior (PRs between 0.20 and 0.33) and senior ranks (PRs between 0.18 and 0.37). Across all ages, women were underrepresented in senior academic ranks.

There has been a steady increase in women in academic dentistry, particularly in junior ranks. Representation in senior ranks remains limited, highlighting the need for policy and cultural changes to promote gender equity in senior leadership. Addressing systemic barriers is essential for closing the gender gap in academic dentistry.