Could someone please explain to me...

[blackhole2]

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There are about 20 schools of optometry in the United States. There are about 55 schools of dentistry in the United States. Are dentists facing an oversupply issue like optometrists or is optometry just complained about more? It just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[JMU07]

Part of the reason for the fact that there are so many more dentistry and medical schools is because people see those professionals MUCH more often than they see us. People see their dentists twice a year, they see us on average of once every 2 and a half years or something like that (according to AOA).

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Part of the reason for the fact that there are so many more dentistry and medical schools is because people see those professionals MUCH more often than they see us. People see their dentists twice a year, they see us on average of once every 2 and a half years or something like that (according to AOA).

I have some 50 or 60 yrs old that have never been to an OD vs twice a year for a dentist. 2 visits x 40 years (conservative) = 80 encounters. 80 enc. x $100 dental visit (conservative) = $8000 revenue/patient. Patient finally shows up for a eye exam at age 55. 1 visit x $55 = $55.

Just one example.

Not every patient waits this long, but I would say 2 years is common for most CL wearers, and 3 years is more common for spectacle wearers. Some more often, some less often.

btw i do not charge $55 for an initial visit. I just see too many advertise $45.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Part of the reason for the fact that there are so many more dentistry and medical schools is because people see those professionals MUCH more often than they see us. People see their dentists twice a year, they see us on average of once every 2 and a half years or something like that (according to AOA).

Plus, medicine and dentistry both have to supply every doctor in their field. Dentistry has to get enough generalists PLUS orthodontists, pediatrics, endodontists, and OMFS.

Medicine has an even great number of specialists that come out of the total MD graduating numbers.

ODs, on the other hand, are almost entirely generalists so your graduating class will all be going into the same-ish job environment.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Urban areas and many suburban areas are very saturated with dentists. Everybody wants to live in areas that are popular, that's how it goes.

The recent shift in the economy has provided some natural selection in weeding out some dentists (putting them out of business or causing them to relocate to another area).

It's not just optometry. In my opinion there are too many dental schools, and, as usual, very few want to live in rural areas where their services are needed the most and they can easily make the most $.