The aging of the baby boomers and the fact people are living longer will greatly challenge the healthcare industry in the next 10 to 20 years. Many healthcare fields, especially dentistry, could face a shortage of workers to meet the dental care needs of South Dakota.  

The National Conference of State Legislatures states oral health has been called the “silent epidemic.” Research has shown chronic oral infections can lead to heart and lung diseases, diabetes and stroke, as well as premature births and low birth weights. It is estimated tooth decay and associated pain interfere with daily activities for millions of children and adolescents each year. Dental health has taken a backseat to other national health and economic concerns, especially in rural areas where family dentists are few and far between. 

South Dakota is primarily a rural state, which means many residents travel several miles to visit a dentist. According to 2004 data from the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry, there was one dentist provider to every 2,824 South Dakotans, compared to the national average of one provider for every 1,812 residents. According to the most current data available from the South Dakota Dental Association and the U.S. Census Bureau, there is one dentist for every 2,226 residents in the year 2006.

Dentists in South Dakota
Year	Number of Dentists	Total Population	Ratio
1990	300	696,004	1 to 2,320
2000	315	754,844	1 to 2,396
2006	345	781,919	1 to 2,266

The South Dakota Dental Association reports almost 40 percent of South Dakota’s dentists are currently 55-years-old or older, and an additional 30 percent are 45 to 55-years-old. So in addition to a higher than average number of patients per dentist, which indicates a shortage, there is a strong demand for replacement workers as well. The national trend will be similar, with the number of dentists retiring exceeding the number of new workers in this occupation.

The chart below shows a large portion of dentists in South Dakota will be retiring in the coming decade. A shortage of dentists is expected in the next 10 to 20 years. Because of the aging process, many baby boomers will seek cosmetic dental procedures.  The fact Americans are living longer will also drive the demand for more dental care.

Dentists in South Dakota by Age Group
Age Group	25 to 34	35 to 44	45 to 54	55+	Total
Number of Dentists	54	57	108	138	357
Percent of Total	15.1%	16.0%	30.3%	38.7%	100.0%
Source: South Dakota Dental Association.

The Labor Market Information Center projects South Dakota will need 53 more dentists in 2014 than in 2004 due to new job openings. There will also be an additional 59 dentists needed to replace workers who will leave the labor force for reasons such as retirements or transfers. The total openings for dentists in South Dakota are projected to be about 112 for the period of 2004 to 2014.  

 

The University of South Dakota offers a dental hygiene program generating about 30 graduates annually, but there is no dentistry program in South Dakota.  However, the need for dentists is an issue South Dakota policy makers are addressing. Current and future problems  regarding dentistry were discussed during the “Improving Oral Heath in South Dakota” meeting held in 2002.  Many strategies were proposed, and many initiatives were listed, including working with high schools and colleges to recruit new dental students and establish scholarships.

Regarding the dentist supply issue, South Dakota does not have reserved seats for students at dental schools according to Paul Knecht, Executive Director of the South Dakota Dental Association. Just this year, the legislature provided $40,000 for externships. This will bring six students back to South Dakota for three weeks during the summer between their third and fourth year of dental school. The Tuition Reimbursement Program is another initiative providing up to $100,000 at the end of a three-year stay in a qualifying South Dakota Community. This program may be beneficial to rural areas that have long struggled to attract and retain dentists.

The South Dakota Dental Association received a federal grant to recruit students into the profession and then back to South Dakota. This funding ends in July, but much of the recruiting infrastructure is in place and efforts will continue. Some examples of how federal grant money has been spent are the Health Edventures website (http://www.healthedventure.org/,) on-line dental placement service, clubs at South Dakota universities, externship experiences, and the promotion and recruiting activities (database development).

A career in dentistry offers many unique opportunities and benefits:

• The demand for new dentists is strong.

• Dentistry is a well-respected and prestigious profession.

• Dentists help people with their oral health, an important aspect of overall health.

• Dentists are usually self-employed.

• In South Dakota, the average wage is $163,000.

For more information regarding the dentist occupation in South Dakota, please visit the Labor Market Information Center's Career InSite (http://www.sdjobs.org/careerinsite/).