The U.S. dentist workforce is growing, getting younger and becoming more female, while new dental schools are expanding the pipeline of graduates, according to a new report from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute.
“The U.S. Dentist Workforce” draws on the latest available data from multiple sources as of November 2026. Most workforce figures are for 2025 and come from the ADA masterfile.
Here are 10 stats to know from the report:
The U.S. had 205,088 dentists in 2025, up from 202,400 in 2024 and 163,376 in 2001. Growth had stabilized in recent years as older dentists retired in what the report calls a temporary “surge.” About 79% of dentists, or 161,733, are general practitioners, down slightly from 80% in 2001.
Source: Who makes up the US dentist workforce? 10 stats to know / Becker’s Dental