Turnover Rates/numbers?

[lifeisajourney]

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Hello everybody,

Dentistry seems like the profession to get into these days. I read I new york times article a few months back the the guy said if I had a child entering the professional world I would suggest dentistry. So now my question becomes, what is the turnover number in the profession. By turnover I mean for the number of dentists retiring, how many new dentists are entering the field each year. I know this number is going to vary drastically between states and even within states when comparing rural areas to populated areas. But just on average, for the nation as a whole, I was wondering if anyone has found this number or rate.

Thanks for your help. And best of luck to those starting the application process, it is a long haul but hang in there and good things will happen.

 

[Vicviper]

Here's some good info to read:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm

As it says in there, the Baby Boom generation of dentists has started to retire, and so there will be plenty of openings for new comers. Also, as the overall Baby Boom population gets older, it will cause a higher demand for dentists. So overall, it looks pretty good.

 

[sfrice80]

I dont have a specific rate but I do know that for my state at least (Wisconsin), there is a large number retiring and not enough coming in to take their place. Dentists are retiring and are unable to sell their practices cuz there arent enough new dentists to buy.

When I was a freshman in college and working at a local retail store, a lady asked me what I was going to school for and when she found out I was pre-dental, she practically jumped on me, asking when I was going to buy a practice cuz she worked for a dentist who couldnt find a buyer!

I think this is the case for most states with the exception of a few but most of them are just supersaturated in urban areas.

 

[kov82]

Well if you don't have new dental schools opening up, or seats being added to existing programs, you won't see any rise in the number of graduates, if there is a shortage of dentists, I'm sure there are plenty of foreign dentists who would love to get and American salary.

 

[sfrice80]

Well if you don't have new dental schools opening up, or seats being added to existing programs, you won't see any rise in the number of graduates, if there is a shortage of dentists, I'm sure there are plenty of foreign dentists who would love to get and American salary.

Thats an interesting concept and I know they would have to take the U.S. boards but is that it? Plus, how many foreign dentists are really emigrating from their country to the U.S. I havent met one in my life.

 

[drm85]

Thats an interesting concept and I know they would have to take the U.S. boards but is that it? Plus, how many foreign dentists are really emigrating from their country to the U.S. I havent met one in my life.

I believe a foreign dentist has to still hold a diploma from an accreditted US (and Canadian?) school in order to graduate in the US. Therefore they must graduate from one, however they can skip the first 2 yrs of American D-School by passing NBDE1, this is also used as their admissions test.

Correct me if I am wrong plz.

 

[Doc Smile]

I believe a foreign dentist has to still hold a diploma from an accreditted US (and Canadian?) school in order to graduate in the US. Therefore they must graduate from one, however they can skip the first 2 yrs of American D-School by passing NBDE1, this is also used as their admissions test.

Correct me if I am wrong plz.

I am actually helping a foreign trained dentist in his transition ot the US. It is really difficult for a foregn DDS to get a US DDS.

You are correct, they MUST take the NBDE II and MUST go to a US dental school for a 2 year program. There is no need to take NBDE I if they have a foreign license. They have to take the TOSL <- the test of english as a second language, if they are coming form a non-english speaking country.

So in reality, it is very difficult, very expensive, and very disheartening for foerign rained dentists to come to the US. I mean, they already did 6 years of dental school in their country (they have no undergrad, just 6 year dental right out of high school) and then they have to do TWO MORE in the US, that is a lot of wasted time and money, especially foreign trained dentists who have an established practice.

And that is just the dental license! they still need to get an education visa, which means a sponsor. Also, the need to get US citizenship if they want to continue practicing in the US.

So, in conclusion, we will not be seing a large influx of foreign dentists. Our system was created to prevent that from occuring. The US was the founders of the modern dental medicine, and we want to make sure that dentists in the US get the REAL dental education.