The face of dentistry is changing to a younger and more female workforce, according to a new report from the ADA Health Policy Institute.
In 2024, nearly 2 in 5 dentists in the U.S. were female, according to The U.S. Dentist Workforce – Update 2025. The share of dentists who are female has more than doubled since 2001, increasing from 16% to 39%. In addition, about half of dentists ages 35 and under are female as of 2024.
“A younger and more diverse workforce means that the shift from solo practice to group practice and dental support organizations, a trend that has been underway for a decade, will continue. Younger dentists are delaying practice ownership and are more frequently practicing in group practice after graduation,” said Marko Vujicic, Ph.D., ADA chief economist and vice president of HPI.
Source: Dental workforce transitioning to younger, female dentists / ADA News