Just got me thinking a bit...

[cdmOMR]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Well I heard some new numbers (new to me) from a couple sources about more dentists are retiring/passing away per year than there are graduating from dental schools(Ive heard ~4000 graduate, ~6000 retire/pass away). This could be leading towards a shortage in Dentists. And we all know about the record number of applicants and the ever increasing statistics needed to get into dental school. But one number hasnt really gone up substantially, and that is the number of spots available in D-schools per year.

So we have:
1. a need for more dentists to be produced per year
2. more people that are applying to D-school per year
3. a (big) drop in percentage of applicants that get in to D-school per year
4. a rise in difficulty of getting into dental school due to increased competition

Am I the only one who thinks the math just doesnt add up? I know a few schools are being opened, but enough to make up the gap?

 

[purduephigam]

I have been saying this for months. I actually made a post similar to this, but everyone seems to think the competition is right where it needs to be and that everything is fine.

Also keep in mind that even with the low turn-around numbers of fresh dentists, the population in the US is still very well on the rise. I think we're either looking at 60 work weeks or we need to make some changes as far as the number of schools or the number of seats per class. Just my opinion though.

 

[CSI Dentist]

They will need a lot more dentist with coming years, bc yes a lot of them are going to retire about the same time that hopefully wall graduate. The dean at my interview went on about this for a while..... and ... don't think standards will ever drop.

p.s. Purduephigam... ahhah that video is awesome! (i finally to to see it) 😛

 

[GoDucks69]

I wouldnt worry about it too much. Fewer dentists is definately a good thing for us...if you get into dental school that is

 

[cdmOMR]

I wouldnt worry about it too much. Fewer dentists is definately a good thing for us...if you get into dental school that is

Me not worry?? Apparently you havent checked out my lovely numbers . I agree that you dont want to flood the market so dentists are a dime a dozen...but to the point where a lot of qualified people are getting turned down I think is kinda wrong when there is a need. Anyone who wants to argue that a 3.0 makes you not qualified enough for D-school, I will tell you to PM people like mr Yah-E. Now if you say that a 3.0 is no longer competitive, then I agree with you 100%.

 

[Zanderale6]

For those of you with a little time on your hand (or for those of you looking for a way to procrastinate a little) ... I tracked down an interesting article on this subject from 1998.

http://jada.ada.org/cgi/reprint/129/12/1700

If you don't have time to skim the whole thing, you can scroll down to the author's conclusions.

Make of it what you will. I thought it was a worthwhile read.

 

[pre-dentalguy]

My uncle has been in the dental industry for 28 years and he says that the dental shortage is increasing.

 

[Fuji]

I know that VCU is increasing their class by 10 for next year.

Personally, I hope d-schoools don't rush to expand their programs too dramatically, because the law of supply and demand will be working in our favor when the baby-boomers start retiring. On the other hand, if schools start expanding their graduating classes to fill that gap, when all those baby-boomers die off we are going to have a smaller patient pool.

Anyone know what the long-term outcomes are for the population of the US? Is the US population expected to shrink at any point, or will immigration keep us growing?

 

[cdmOMR]

I know that VCU is increasing their class by 10 for next year.

Personally, I hope d-schoools don't rush to expand their programs too dramatically, because the law of supply and demand will be working in our favor when the baby-boomers start retiring. On the other hand, if schools start expanding their graduating classes to fill that gap, when all those baby-boomers die off we are going to have a smaller patient pool.

Anyone know what the long-term outcomes are for the population of the US? Is the US population expected to shrink at any point, or will immigration keep us growing?

Barring a major catastrophy, I dont see the US population, or any population decreasing. I dont think there should be 40 new schools opened up, but I think they should try and even it out a little bit. The article Zanderale6 posted was pretty good from what i skimmed.

 

[KOM]

I think quite a few schools are adding additional seats...I know Kentucky and VCU have

 

[toothdr84]

Well I heard some new numbers (new to me) from a couple sources about more dentists are retiring/passing away per year than there are graduating from dental schools(Ive heard ~4000 graduate, ~6000 retire/pass away). This could be leading towards a shortage in Dentists. And we all know about the record number of applicants and the ever increasing statistics needed to get into dental school. But one number hasnt really gone up substantially, and that is the number of spots available in D-schools per year.

So we have:
1. a need for more dentists to be produced per year
2. more people that are applying to D-school per year
3. a (big) drop in percentage of applicants that get in to D-school per year
4. a rise in difficulty of getting into dental school due to increased competition

Am I the only one who thinks the math just doesnt add up? I know a few schools are being opened, but enough to make up the gap?

The main problem is that a lot of D-schools are understaffed and simply do not have the resources/funding to expand their classes. I mean who goes to dental school to become a professor? Less pay, more work. It's a great time to become a dentist.

 

[AnonymousADCOM]

makes sense. growing population. dying/retiring baby boomers. we need more dentists. SO ACCEPT ME PLEASE!!!

 

[polf]

"However, employment of dentists is NOT expected to grow as rapidly as the demand for dental services. As their practices expand, dentists are likely to hire more dental hygienists and dental assistants to handle routine services. Dentists will increasingly provide care and instruction aimed at preventing the loss of teeth, rather than simply providing treatments such as fillings."
- http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm

I guess the reason is people are taking better care of their teeth than before thus less trips to the dentists each year and also hygenists are taking on more and more of the dentist's role.

 

[AnonymousADCOM]

"However, employment of dentists is NOT expected to grow as rapidly as the demand for dental services. As their practices expand, dentists are likely to hire more dental hygienists and dental assistants to handle routine services. Dentists will increasingly provide care and instruction aimed at preventing the loss of teeth, rather than simply providing treatments such as fillings."
- http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm

I guess the reason is people are taking better care of their teeth than before thus less trips to the dentists each year and also hygenists are taking on more and more of the dentist's role.

interesting. my dentist told me that his next door orthodontic neighbor has his assistants do all the braces stuff. he just comes into the room, looks in the patient's mouth, and then leaves. what a boring life.

 

[jaypea65]

interesting. my dentist told me that his next door orthodontic neighbor has his assistants do all the braces stuff. he just comes into the room, looks in the patient's mouth, and then leaves. what a boring life.

Smart man....Like an ER physician once told me..." I don't work for a living, I make money".

 

[Turnerjo13]

Technology should help us future dentists cope with the increasing demand.

good luck everyone!

 

[musiq]

This is the same thing that people are saying about pharmacist and pharmacist assistants. I wish dentist salaries were growing as fast as pharmacist. I think thier salaries are growing 2 times the inflation rate. That is crazy!!!

 

[dddsmack]

Less dentists = more money


More schools = less money for you

 

[Diezel69x]

No one feels the shortage so far. Its justs numbers that there are less people graduating that retiring. Until everyone feels that there is a real problem no one is going to do anything about it, its just how the world works. I think!

 

[superfinger45]

For those of you with a little time on your hand (or for those of you looking for a way to procrastinate a little) ... I tracked down an interesting article on this subject from 1998.

http://jada.ada.org/cgi/reprint/129/12/1700

If you don't have time to skim the whole thing, you can scroll down to the author's conclusions.

Make of it what you will. I thought it was a worthwhile read.

great article! thanks