Dental workforce shortage in the United States
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v9i20.3122Keywords:
Dental Workforce, Workforce Shortage, Access to Care, Health Inequalities, United StatesAbstract
The shortage of the dental workforce represents a significant challenge to access to oral health services, particularly in contexts marked by unequal distribution of professionals. This study aimed to analyze the distribution, determinants, and impacts of the dental workforce shortage in the United States. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search was performed between January and March 2026 in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as through manual searches of institutional reports. A total of 12 studies were included, addressing aspects related to workforce distribution, access to care, and oral health inequalities. The findings revealed a predominance of observational studies, highlighting the unequal distribution of dentists between urban and rural areas, as well as the influence of structural, economic, and social factors on workforce shortages. Vulnerable populations were found to be disproportionately affected, and the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated barriers to access. It is concluded that the dental workforce shortage in the United States is a multifactorial issue that requires integrated strategies to improve workforce distribution and promote equity in oral health care.
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References
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