Dental workforce transitioning to younger, female dentists

New HPI report shows nearly 2 in 5 dentists are female

The face of dentistry is changing to a younger and more female workforce, according to a new report from the ADA Health Policy Institute.

In 2024, nearly 2 in 5 dentists in the U.S. were female, according to The U.S. Dentist Workforce – Update 2025. The share of dentists who are female has more than doubled since 2001, increasing from 16% to 39%. In addition, about half of dentists ages 35 and under are female as of 2024.

“A younger and more diverse workforce means that the shift from solo practice to group practice and dental support organizations, a trend that has been underway for a decade, will continue. Younger dentists are delaying practice ownership and are more frequently practicing in group practice after graduation,” said Marko Vujicic, Ph.D., ADA chief economist and vice president of HPI.

According to the report, while the dental workforce is changing in terms of demographics and practice modality, established dentists are experiencing a “fiscal squeeze” that is driving income down across all specialties and career stages. Dentists are also retiring later than they used to.

The supply of dentists has been stable for the past few years but is about to grow, Dr. Vujicic said. The retirement “surge” among baby boomer dentists is nearing its end while dental school enrollment is at an all-time high.

The new HPI report explores trends in four domains: who makes up the dentist workforce, how and where dentists work, how practicing dentists are doing economically, and the future of the dentist workforce. It also includes state-level trends.

HPI will continue to monitor these trends and what they may mean for the dentist profession and the dental care delivery system. Read the full report at ADA.org/hpi.