The Dental Industry Today
Even in developing economies such as Pakistan and India, the dental industry is gradually shifting towards a consumer-centric approach. This trend is the result of various influencing factors; the most important ones being the increasing competition and performance standards.Â
Competition amongst private practitioners has evolved as patients demand excellence in service and customer experience rather than just the post-operative outcomes. Patients have begun to take more responsibility by seeking information on the internet and peer-to-peer reviews.Â
Here are 5 statistics that offer a unique context as to where the dental industry stands today.
1. Income
In the United States, the average annual net income for a practicing dentist varies between general practitioners and specialists; the latter being specialists in a particular aspect within the dental field.Â
- Private practicing dentist earn an average of $188,580 per annum.
- For specialists, it is $333,540 per annum.Â
The reasons for these high incomes can be attributed to the next key statistic, which forms a basis for the critical doctor-to-patient ratio.
2. Number of working professionals
The number of dentists, especially in the rural areas and smaller towns, is surprisingly disappointing.Â
- In 2015, it was estimated that there were about 195,722 dental practitioners in the United States. That number comes around to about 7 working professionals for every 10,000 people.
- In 2017, there were 198,517 dental practitioners in the United States, whereas the population increased in this period. Today, for each 100,000 people, there are 61 dentists in the country.
As dental hygiene and treatment is a basic human need, the doctor-to-patient rationalises the high salaries of dental practitioners and specialists.Â
3. Dental Treatment Can Be Expensive
In 2015, it was observed that nine percent of the U.S. population that required critical oral treatment and attention but could not pursue it due the expensive treatment options available. Although oral health is a major component of general well being, a wide-majority of dental procedures are overtly expensive.Â
Accordingly to Costhelper, he average office visit at a dental office costs between 50 to 350 dollars whereas tooth-saving procedures such as bridges can range from 1,000 to 12,000 USD. Poor dental hygiene, therefore, can result in severe costs for an individual patient and can prove taxing for low-income families.
4. Gender and Age division
American Dental Association reported that in 2017, female dentists consisted of one-third of all practising dentists in the country: of 198,517 registered dentists, there were only 31% females.Â
The average age of a dental practitioner is also relatively high: majority of the dental practitioners are over the age of 40.
In fact, about:
- 25% of the dentists are between the ages of 40 and 50.Â
- 23.5% were between 55 and 64 andÂ
- 16% were even over the age of 65 (which is quite different from other professions).
The average retirement age came to about 69 years; which is higher than the industry standard for the medical profession.
5. Patients
In the dental industry, the average number of patients are relatively less than expected. The American Dentist Association recommends a visit to the dentist twice a year. However, according to the American Dental Association, in 2014:Â
- Only 52% of adults visit the dentist every 6 months; which if analyzed closely, is a very poor number.Â
- 10.7% have not visited the dentist in the last two years.
The above statistics highlight how costs, incomes and and other key statistics relate to each other to present a holistic overview of the industry. While the U.S. dental industry ranks among the most advanced in the world, the large number of patients and the economic divide between them necessitates a re-thinking of the industry to better suit the requirements of all demographics of the society.
References
- https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/dental-statistics/patients
- https://sidekickmag.com/dental-practice-management/consumerism-in-the-dental-industry-understanding-the-new-dental-consume/
5 Key Statistics about the Dental Industry
The Dental Industry Today
The dental industry is gradually shifting towards a consumer-centric approach. This trend is the result of various influencing factors; the most important ones being the increasing competition and performance standards.Â
Competition amongst private practitioners has evolved as patients demand excellence in service and customer experience rather than just the post-operative outcomes. Patients have begun to take more responsibility by seeking information on the internet and peer-to-peer reviews.Â
Here are 5 statistics that offer a unique context as to where the dental industry stands today.
1. Income
In the United States, the average annual net income for a practicing dentist varies between general practitioners and specialists; the latter being specialists in a particular aspect within the dental field.Â
- Private practicing dentist earn an average of $188,580 per annum.
- For specialists, it is $333,540 per annum.Â
The reasons for these high incomes can be attributed to the next key statistic, which forms a basis for the critical doctor-to-patient ratio.
2. Number of working professionals
The number of dentists, especially in the rural areas and smaller towns, is surprisingly disappointing.Â
- In 2015, it was estimated that there were about 195,722 dental practitioners in the United States. That number comes around to about 7 working professionals for every 10,000 people.
- In 2017, there were 198,517 dental practitioners in the United States, whereas the population increased in this period. Today, for each 100,000 people, there are 61 dentists in the country.
As dental hygiene and treatment is a basic human need, the doctor-to-patient rationalises the high salaries of dental practitioners and specialists.Â
3. Dental Treatment Can Be Expensive
In 2015, it was observed that nine percent of the U.S. population that required critical oral treatment and attention but could not pursue it due the expensive treatment options available. Although oral health is a major component of general well being, a wide-majority of dental procedures are overtly expensive.Â
Accordingly to Costhelper, he average office visit at a dental office costs between 50 to 350 dollars whereas tooth-saving procedures such as bridges can range from 1,000 to 12,000 USD. Poor dental hygiene, therefore, can result in severe costs for an individual patient and can prove taxing for low-income families.
4. Gender and Age division
American Dental Association reported that in 2017, female dentists consisted of one-third of all practising dentists in the country: of 198,517 registered dentists, there were only 31% females.Â
The average age of a dental practitioner is also relatively high: majority of the dental practitioners are over the age of 40.
In fact, about:
- 25% of the dentists are between the ages of 40 and 50.Â
- 23.5% were between 55 and 64 andÂ
- 16% were even over the age of 65 (which is quite different from other professions).
The average retirement age came to about 69 years; which is higher than the industry standard for the medical profession.
5. Patients
In the dental industry, the average number of patients are relatively less than expected. The American Dentist Association recommends a visit to the dentist twice a year. However, according to the American Dental Association, in 2014:Â
- Only 52% of adults visit the dentist every 6 months; which if analyzed closely, is a very poor number.Â
- 10.7% have not visited the dentist in the last two years.
The above statistics highlight how costs, incomes and and other key statistics relate to each other to present a holistic overview of the industry. While the U.S. dental industry ranks among the most advanced in the world, the large number of patients and the economic divide between them necessitates a re-thinking of the industry to better suit the requirements of all demographics of the society.
References
