Here are six recent updates that have led to optimism and skepticism in the dental industry:
Good news
Graduation rates increase
The total number of dental school graduates has increased by 20.7% since 2015, according to data from the American Dental Association. Dental schools graduated 5,811 students in 2015, compared to 7,015 in 2025.
Dental benefit use increases
Just under half of the U.S. population (47%) visited a dentist in 2024, up from 46% in 2023, according to an ADA report. The report said utilization has risen steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic, but disparities by population group remain fixed.