How many dentists are in each specialty in the US

All 12 specialties

The ADA counts a dentist under every specialty they hold a certificate or degree in. A dentist trained in two specialties appears in both rows, so the rows add up to more than the number of specialists. The last column is our own count of practice locations that carry the specialty's name.

Source: ADA Health Policy Institute, Supply of Dentists in the U.S.: 2001 to 2025, Table 4. Practices: DentistEmailList.com, October 16, 2026 release, one row per office location.

What changed in ten years

The profession grew 4.8% from 2015 to 2025, from 195,755 dentists to 205,088. Pediatric dentistry grew six times as fast. The ADA counted 7,386 pediatric dentists in 2015 and 9,521 in 2025, a gain of 2,135, or 29%.

Three large specialties went the other way. Periodontics lost 206 dentists over the decade, prosthodontics 101 and oral surgery 77. Endodontics grew 3.4% and orthodontics 1.6%, both slower than the profession as a whole.

The ADA adds its own caution. It says the 2023 to 2025 figures should be read carefully, because it is still changing how it maintains the data. The direction shows up in the earlier numbers too: by 2022, before the change, pediatric dentistry was already up 22% on 2015 and periodontics was already down.

For anyone selling to dental offices, the pediatric line is the one to watch. A specialty that adds about 200 dentists a year keeps opening offices, and a new office has no incumbent vendor yet.

How many orthodontists are in the US?

10,844 orthodontists were professionally active in 2025, by the ADA. In 2015 there were 10,672, so the specialty has barely grown. The American Association of Orthodontists reports 19,000 members, but that figure includes Canada and members abroad.

Our file has 7,922 orthodontic practices. California has 1,088 of them and Texas 663. Orthodontics is the specialty most tied to dental support organizations: 18% of orthodontists were DSO-affiliated in 2024, the highest share of any specialty. The practices by state are on the orthodontist email list page.

How many pediatric dentists are in the US?

9,521 pediatric dentists were professionally active in 2025. It is the second-largest specialty and the only large one growing fast, up 29% from 7,386 in 2015. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports nearly 12,000 members. Association figures run higher than the ADA's for every specialty, because they count members, not practicing US dentists.

Our file has 5,625 pediatric practices, 800 of them in California and 645 in Texas. 11% of pediatric dentists were DSO-affiliated in 2024. See the pediatric dentists email list.

How many oral surgeons are in the US?

7,482 oral and maxillofacial surgeons were professionally active in 2025, slightly fewer than the 7,559 of 2015. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons says it represents more than 9,000 surgeons in the United States. Its total membership of 11,359 includes residents and retired members.

Surgeons tend to work in groups, so there are fewer offices than surgeons. Our file has 3,450 surgical practices, with California at 433 and Florida at 243. 13% of oral surgeons were DSO-affiliated in 2024. See the oral surgeons email list.

How many endodontists are in the US?

5,738 endodontists were professionally active in 2025, up from 5,552 in 2015. The American Association of Endodontists reports a record membership of more than 8,000.

Our file has 2,626 endodontic offices, 426 in California and 214 in Florida. General dentists do many root canals too, but they count as general dentists here and in the ADA's table. 12% of endodontists were DSO-affiliated in 2024. See the endodontists email list.

How many periodontists are in the US?

5,480 periodontists were professionally active in 2025, down from 5,686 in 2015. The American Academy of Periodontology calls itself a 7,500-member organization.

Our file has 2,295 periodontal and implant practices. California has 397, Florida 210 and New York 207. 10% of periodontists were DSO-affiliated in 2024. See the periodontists email list.

How many prosthodontists are in the US?

3,568 prosthodontists were professionally active in 2025, against 3,669 in 2015. The American College of Prosthodontists describes a community of 3,800.

Only 333 practices in our file carry the prosthodontist name, 120 of them in California. Many prosthodontists teach or work inside general and implant practices, so the office count is about a tenth of the dentist count. Prosthodontics is also the least consolidated specialty, at 9% DSO-affiliated in 2024. See the prosthodontists email list.

The six smallest specialties

Six specialties hold 1,680 dentists between them: dental public health (722), oral and maxillofacial pathology (424), oral and maxillofacial radiology (225), dental anesthesiology (159), orofacial pain (96) and oral medicine (54). The ADA has counted dental anesthesiology only since 2019, and orofacial pain and oral medicine since 2020.

Radiology is the one growing quickly, from 135 dentists in 2015 to 225. Public health is shrinking, from 869 to 722. Few of these specialists run an office of their own. Most work in universities, hospitals and government, and they rarely appear as a practice location.

How many general dentists and hygienists are in the US?

161,733 dentists worked in general practice in 2025, about 79% of the profession. That is up 4.5% from 154,755 in 2015. General dentists also do a share of the specialists' work, root canals and implants above all.

Dental hygienists outnumber dentists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 225,300 hygienist jobs in 2025. Hygienists work inside practices, so you reach them through the practice. Our people file names 47,078 staff, hygienists among them, each tied to an office. See the dental hygienists email list. For the profession as a whole, by state and over time, see how many dentists are in the US.