With a staggering 59 million Americans residing in dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), as reported by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the demand for skilled dentists in the U.S. has never been stronger. Even more concerning, 66% of these HPSAs are in rural areas of the country, illustrating the inequity in dental healthcare access between highly-populated cities and the sparsely inhabited countryside. But what does this mean for dentist jobs in 2025 and beyond? Read on as we explore more about the dentist job outlook, the benefits of becoming a locum tenens dentist, and new locum tenens dentist job opportunities that we have available.
Dentist Job Outlook for 2025 and Beyond
Between 2023 and 2033, overall dentist employment is projected to grow by 5% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a rate that’s about as quick as the average for all occupations in the country. This translates to an average of 4,900 new dentist job openings each year on average in that decade. In total, the BLS estimates that dentist employment will increase from 160,600 in 2023 to 167,900 in 2033.
Employment projections change depending on dental specialty, however. Here’s BLS’s projected percentage increase in employment for the following dental specialties between 2023 and 2033:
- General Dentists – 5%
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons – 3%
- Orthodontists – 4%
- Prosthodontists – 4%
- Dentists, all other specialties – 2%
Interested in learning about how much dentists make? Check out our general dentist salary guide for more.
Which states employ the most dentists?
Here are the five states with the highest employment of general dentists in May 2023, according to the BLS:
Is there a shortage of dentists in America?
Yes, as mentioned above, around 59 million American citizens live in areas that are designated dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), which are parts of the country that do not have enough dentists to meet the dental healthcare needs of its community.
Dental professional shortages are most acute in rural parts of the country, affecting around 19.4 million people living in those areas, according to the HRSA.
The HRSA projects that an extra 10,093 dental health professionals, including dentists, are needed across all dental HPSAs to remove the shortage designations as of September 2024.
Why is there a shortage of dentists in America?
One of the main reasons for the shortage of dentists in America is because of a rapidly aging population. As the Baby Boomer generation grows older, elderly patients are requiring more comprehensive dental care, increasing demand. At the same time, dentists who are part of the Baby Boomer generation are retiring, limiting the supply of healthcare professionals.
The American Dental Association (ADA) says that even though the number of dental schools have increased and enrollment at these institutions have grown in recent years, it hasn’t been enough to outpace retirements.
In rural areas especially, patient populations are often older, make less money, and are more likely to rely on Medicare and Medicaid for dental care, according to a 2022 paper published in the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal of Ethics. Given that only an estimated 43% of dentists accept Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), the ability for rural populations to access dental healthcare at an affordable rate is often hindered. Not to mention, it’s oftentimes more difficult to get new dental grads to move there due to limited resources and existing dental health infrastructure.
In addition, transportation is also usually more difficult in these parts of the country, making it harder for patients to seek out care and for dentists to set up successful practices. There’s also just fewer dentists working in rural areas; the AMA paper says only 14% of dentists practice in rural areas, the majority of which work in larger rural areas.
Can locum tenens dentists help solve America’s dentist shortage?
Locum tenens dentists can play a crucial role in addressing America’s dentist shortage, particularly in underserved and rural areas. These dental professionals offer a flexible solution to fill gaps in coverage, working long- or short-term temporary assignments at understaffed practices and bringing much-needed care to regions lacking permanent dentists. By serving in various locations, locum tenens dentists can help reduce the disparity in dental healthcare access between urban and rural communities.
These professionals not only provide general dental care but can also offer specialized treatments in areas that lack certain dental specialties. This ensures patients receive comprehensive care without the need for long-distance travel. Additionally, locum tenens dentists help alleviate burnout among permanent staff by sharing the workload, potentially reducing turnover rates in high-need areas.
From a financial perspective, healthcare facilities can hire locum tenens dentists as needed, offering a cost-effective way to maintain dental services without the long-term commitment of full-time hires. This flexibility allows practices to extend their hours of operation, see more patients, and ultimately improve overall access to dental care.
While locum tenens dentists alone cannot completely solve America’s dentist shortage, they represent a valuable resource in addressing immediate needs and bridging gaps in dental care access. Their contributions significantly improve dental health outcomes across the country, especially in areas facing the most severe shortages.
Why become a locum tenens dentist?
The locum tenens industry is experiencing a significant boom, with projections indicating continued growth in the coming years. This trend translates to abundant job opportunities for healthcare professionals who opt for locum tenens work.
Healthcare providers who decide to pursue locum tenens assignments through Barton Associates can enjoy several exclusive advantages not typically available in permanent positions, including:
- Higher pay
- Greater schedule flexibility
- The ability to travel the country
- Licensing and credentialing assistance
- Travel and lodging assistance
Find Your Next Locum Tenens Dentist Job with Barton Associates
Interested in taking on the locum tenens lifestyle as a locum tenens dentist? Check out our interactive map below to learn about our open locum tenens dentist job opportunities:
We also have a traditional job board you can browse, or directly reach out to a recruiter today to get started.
