Diversity of dentists in the U.S. is severely lacking. Did you know, according to the ADA, just 3.8% of dentists are Black or African American and 6.0% are Hispanic? When compared to U.S. Census data, both of these constitute less than a third of their representation in the general population, 13.6% Black/African American and 19.1% Hispanic.
How does a lack of diversity in dentistry impact patients?
According to HealthyPeople.gov, there is a correlation between oral health and race/ethnicity. Black/African American and Mexican American children and adults are more likely to have untreated tooth decay than their white counterparts.
One of the primary reasons for this is lack of access to dental care and lack of dental insurance. Many of these underserved populations live in “dental deserts” or racial/ethnic minority communities with very few or no dentists.
Increasing diversity within the dental field could improve individual patient outcomes and overall oral health. Studies from the Journal of Public Health Dentistry have demonstrated that racial/ethnic minority dentists are more likely to practice in these underserved communities than their white colleagues.
Additionally, the American Economic Association has found that healthcare patients are shown to have higher levels of compliance and satisfaction with their treatment when treated by providers with their same cultural and racial/ethnic background.
Addressing diversity and looking ahead
As indicated by this data, there is a need for more racially and ethnically diverse dentists. Despite a 2.2% annual increase in the number of underrepresented minorities applying to dental school between 2011 and 2019 as reported by the American Dental Education Association, it is not enough to address the ongoing and worsening gap in representation.
To be at parity with the population, the U.S. would need more than 45,200 additional minority dentists, according to the ADEA. This gap will likely continue to widen as the U.S. population continues to get more diverse with Census experts projecting 57% of the population will be non-white by 2060.
By supporting efforts to increase diversity in dentistry, we can work towards improving access to care and improved outcomes for more of our patients. This is a complex problem that demands complex solutions and will need all of us to make any progress.
The more we can provide exposure to dentistry for young students, mentorship to foster interest, educational support, and financial means to reach their dentistry dreams, the more we can all benefit.
Staying well informed and understanding the challenges that face different communities is one of our greatest tools in addressing these disparities. The future of dentistry is bright. Let’s work together to make both delivering and receiving oral health care accessible to all of us.
