The 12 States with the Largest Dentist Shortages

In an article published Monday, reporter Ed Rabinowitz discussed the increasing problem of market saturation facing dentists and dental hygienists. In many areas, the market already has enough dental professionals, creating a surplus and causing business and career headaches for dentists.

However, as the article noted, much of the problem has to do with an unequal distribution of the dental health workforce. While some areas are flush with dental professionals, other areas have major shortages. Below, we take a look at the states with the biggest shortages of dentists.

The US Department of Health and Human Services regularly publishes reports on what it terms “Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).” These areas are local municipalities and regions in which the number of healthcare professionals doesn’t meet the government’s standard of adequacy. In this case, the government says any area with a population-to-provider ratio of more than 3,500 to 1 qualifies as an HPSA. If the area has population or geographic factors that cause it to have an unusually high need, the government’s benchmark ratio is 3,000 to 1.

For each state, the government adds up the number of HPSAs, along with the percentage of need met in those areas, and the number of dental health professionals that would be required in order to eliminate all of the state's HPSA designations (provided those new professionals were distributed throughout the state based on need).

Overall, according to HHS, about 50 million Americans live in a Health Professional Shortage Area, when it comes to oral health. On average, the nation’s 5,366 HPSAs have just 39% of the number of dentists needed. In order to eliminate all of the United States’ HPSAs, we would need an additional 7,712 dental health professionals (although those numbers would only be sufficient if those dentists were spread out according to need).

What follows are the 12 states that need the most dental professionals in order to remove their HPSA designations. In addition to the raw number of dentists needed, we’ve included the total HPSA designations in the state, the population of those HPSAs, and the percentage of need met within those areas. All data is current as of today.

Practitioners Needed: 254

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 132

Population of HPSAs: 1.6 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 38%

11. Missouri

Practitioners Needed: 294

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 184

Population of HPSAs: 1.6 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 23%

10. New York

Practitioners Needed: 302

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 134

Population of HPSAs: 2.1 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 46%

9. Alabama

Practitioners Needed: 303

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 61

Population of HPSAs: 1.7 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 27%

8. North Carolina

Practitioners Needed: 304

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 138

Population of HPSAs: 2.1 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 42%

7. Pennsylvania

Practitioners Needed: 310

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 164

Population of HPSAs: 2 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 39%

6. Tennessee

Practitioners Needed: 341

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 145

Population of HPSAs: 1.9 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 26%

5. Georgia

Practitioners Needed: 354

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 184

Population of HPSAs: 1.9 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 27%

4. Illinois

Practitioners Needed: 399

Total HPSA-designated Aeas: 163

Population of HPSAs: 2.4 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 26%

3. Texas

Practitioners Needed: 402

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 306

Population of HPSAs: 4.1 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 61%

2. Arizona

Practitioners Needed: 432

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 177

Population of HPSAs: 2.4 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 31%

1. Florida

Practitioners Needed: 933

Total HPSA-designated Areas: 224

Population of HPSAs: 4.3 million

Percentage of Need Met Within HPSAs: 17%

To see the government's latest HPSA report in full, click here.