Supporting Our Oral Health Workforce
Since our founding in 2015, AIDPH has developed programming and scientific activities to support an equitable oral health workforce. In 2022, we expanded our research to explore changes in workforce trends between dental providers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from our analyses revealed concerning trends in a declining dental workforce with significant economic implications both federally and in individual states.
The Financial and Policy Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Care Workers
In our newest report, AIDPH evaluated the impact on workforce numbers and wages using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (US-BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Our key findings revealed:
- The dental workforce as a whole reduced by 3% from pre-pandemic levels.
- A $66.5M annual loss from state revenue impacts the flexibility of social services, creates budgeting shortfalls, and reduces economic growth in local communities.