Dental workforce planning 1 article

Dental workforce planning estimates how many dental professionals, of which types and in which locations, may be needed to meet population oral-health needs. Planning can draw on training capacity, retirement and migration patterns, geographic shortages, demand for services, productivity and the roles of dentists, hygienists, therapists and other team members. The objective is long-range workforce supply and distribution rather than the weekly staffing of one practice. Assumptions and models differ by health system, so forecasts require careful interpretation.