The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

DID YOU KNOW?

The American Dental Association Health Policy Institute (ADAHPI) researches and publishes reports and infographics concerning viability, education, manpower, gender, age, third-party payers, and many other factors that affect the dental profession and its practitioners. ADAHPI statistics allow dentists to keep tabs on the profession with its many changes, such as growth, decline, or shifts in demographics.
Some examples:

• Dental Service organizations have made significant inroads into the private practice arena, particularly with younger dentists. ADAHPI statistics for 2016, the last full year for which figures are available:
• 17.4% of dentists 21-34 years of age are affiliated with a DSO.
• 11% of dentists 35-49 years of age are affiliated with a DSO.
• 4.2% of dentists 50-64 of age are affiliated with a DSO.
• 3.2% of dentists over 65 years of age are affiliated with a DSO.
• Overall, 8% of U.S. dentists have chosen to practice with a DSO.


• Statistics from the 2016-17 school year show:
• AGD program residents were 51.5% female and 48.5% male.
• GPR enrollment was 53.7% female and 46.3% male.
• AGD Dental Anesthesia residents were 61.8% male and 38.2% female.
• AGD Oral Medicine enrollment showed 73.1% female and 26.9% male.
• AGD Orofacial Pain residents were 56.8% female and 43.2% male.
• (These figures indicate that the choice of advanced degrees in dentistry is slowly moving from majority-male to majority-female.


• Early in 2018, ADAHPI released figures showing dentists' participation in Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) dental services for children:
• Overall, 39% of U.S. dentists participate in child dental services programs under Medicaid and CHIP, with Iowa having the highest participation rate at 85.5% and with Maine having the lowest at 15.4%.
• 43% of female dentists accept patients enrolled in one of these two programs, compared to 37% of male dentists.


• An analysis of dental benefits for children in the U.S. shows:
• 51.3% have private insurance benefits
• 38.5% receive dental care under Medicaid or CHIP
• 10.3% have no dental care benefits

For more information, please visit the ADAHPI website.