Practicing US dentists
202,485
Up from 192,000 in 2020; the supply has stabilized after two decades of consistent growth.
ADA HPI, 2025 Workforce Update
Data hub · Last updated May 2026 · Sources: ADA HPI, BLS, IBISWorld, ADEA
US Dental Industry Data 2026
Every number you need about the US dental market in one place, pulled from primary sources and updated quarterly. Every stat is free to cite. Click "Copy citation" on any number.
Active dental practice locations
178,000+
Includes solo, group, DSO-affiliated, and chain practice locations. CAGR 0.9% (2020 to 2025).
IBISWorld Dentists in US, 2026
US dental market size
$179.4B
Industry revenue across all US dental practice locations.
IBISWorld 2026
Female dentists
39.6%
More than double the 16% female share recorded in 2001. ADA projects 50% by 2040.
ADA HPI 2025
DSO-affiliated dentists
16.1%
Up from 7.4% in 2015. 27% of dentists less than 10 years out of dental school are DSO-affiliated.
ADA HPI Practice Modalities 2024
Dental hygienists employed
221,600
Median annual wage $94,260. Projected 7% growth 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average occupation.
BLS OEWS 2024
Workforce
Who Practices Dentistry in the US
Of the 202,485 dentists working in dentistry in 2024, the workforce is younger, more female, and more racially diverse each year. Average career length is 41.3 years; average retirement age is 68.7 (ADA HPI 2025).
Age Distribution (2024)
| Under 35 | 17.3% |
| 35 to 44 | 26.0% |
| 45 to 54 | 22.6% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.7% |
| 65 and older | 15.5% |
Race & Ethnicity (2024)
| White | 67.0% |
| Asian | 20.4% |
| Hispanic | 6.1% |
| Black | 3.9% |
| Other / unknown | 2.6% |
Source: ADA Health Policy Institute, U.S. Dentist Workforce 2025 Update. Latest comprehensive demographic data is from 2024.
By Specialty
US Dentists by Specialty
General dentists make up the largest share. ADA HPI reports 10,830 orthodontists licensed in 2024; counts for the remaining ADA-recognized specialties come from the most recent comprehensive workforce census (2020).
Specialty Counts
| Specialty | Count | Data year |
|---|---|---|
| General dentists (licensed) | 159,562 | 2024 |
| Orthodontists (licensed) | 10,830 | 2024 |
| Pediatric dentists | 8,561 | 2020 |
| Oral and maxillofacial surgeons | 7,529 | 2020 |
| Endodontists | 5,745 | 2020 |
| Periodontists | 5,723 | 2020 |
| Prosthodontists | 3,733 | 2020 |
| Dental public health | 823 | 2020 |
| Oral and maxillofacial pathology | 431 | 2020 |
| Oral and maxillofacial radiology | 164 | 2020 |
Want practice-level contact data for any of these specialties? See dedicated pages for pediatric, orthodontists, oral surgeons, endodontists, periodontists, cosmetic dentists, and dental hygienists.
Consolidation
DSOs and the Shift to Group Practice
The share of US dentists affiliated with a Dental Support Organization reached 16.1% in 2024, more than double the 7.4% recorded in 2015 (ADA HPI). Group practice has overtaken solo: roughly two in three US dentists worked in a group practice in 2024.
The generational divide is sharp. 27% of dentists less than 10 years out of dental school are DSO-affiliated, up from 24% in 2023. Only 9% of dentists who graduated more than 25 years ago are DSO-affiliated. Solo practice now accounts for just 15% of dentists in their first decade, versus 48% of dentists with 25+ years of experience.
North America accounts for ~54% of global DSO activity with 13,000+ DSO-affiliated dental offices (Grand View Research, Precedence Research). The top 10 DSOs by office count hold roughly 50% of the DSO market.
Source: ADA HPI Practice Modalities 2024, Grand View Research
Deeper analysis: The Rise of DSOs (2026 Guide).
Pipeline
Dental School Pipeline
77 CODA-accredited dental schools operate across the US and Puerto Rico (2024-25 academic year), with 67 producing graduates in the most recent year. Total predoctoral enrollment reached 28,925 students in 2025-26, the largest entering class since 2000 (ADEA).
The 2024 graduating class produced roughly 6,872 new dentists, with 55.6% women. The first-year entering class for Fall 2024 was 6,719 students, drawn from 12,491 applicants (ADEA).
The supply pipeline plus a stable retirement curve (average retirement age 68.7 in 2024) keeps the projected dentist workforce growing through 2040 (ADA HPI).
Source: ADEA Trends in Dental Education 2024-25; ADA HPI 2025
Support Workforce
Hygienists and Dental Staff
221,600 dental hygienists were employed in the US in 2024 (BLS), earning a median annual wage of $94,260. The occupation is projected to grow 7% between 2024 and 2034, much faster than the average across occupations, driven by an aging US population and continued demand for preventive care.
Hygienist supply per dental practice averages 1.3 nationally, varying widely by state. Hygienist shortages remain among the most-cited operational challenges in the ADA Economic Outlook surveys; many practices report difficulty filling vacancies in under 6 weeks.
Source: BLS OEWS 2024, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Reach US dental practices that employ hygienists → Dental Hygienists Email List.
Market Size
US Dental Industry Revenue
The US Dentists industry will generate $179.4 billion in revenue in 2026 (IBISWorld). The industry grew at a 0.9% CAGR from 2020 to 2025, recovering from the 2020 pandemic dip and then pressured by rising supply and labor costs.
Cosmetic and elective procedure revenue (clear aligners, implants, whitening) outpaces preventive procedures and is the primary growth driver. DSO-affiliated practices report higher revenue per practice on average, owing to procedure mix and operating leverage.
Source: IBISWorld Dentists in US 2026
Deep Dives
Related Reports
Methodology & Sources
Where These Numbers Come From
Every number on this page comes from a primary source: the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, IBISWorld's US Dentists industry report, and the American Dental Education Association.
When a specialty count has only a 2020 vintage from the ADA workforce census, we note the data year explicitly. Numbers marked 2024 reflect the most recent annual update available as of the page's May 2026 refresh.
If you spot a discrepancy or have a more recent source, please contact us.
- ADA Health Policy Institute, U.S. Dentist Workforce 2025 Update
- ADA HPI, Practice Modalities Among U.S. Dentists
- ADA HPI, U.S. Dentist Demographics
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dentists
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Hygienists
- IBISWorld: Dentists in the US
- ADEA Trends in Dental Education 2024-25
- KFF State Health Facts: Professionally Active Dentists
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