Dentist Workforce and Dental Care Utilization in the Rural and Urban U.S.

Abstract

Rural communities face challenges with accessing dental care, in part due to shortages of dentists in rural communities. This study examined the rural-urban dentist supply and whether rural adults have lower dental care utilization in a nationally representative sample.

Authors:

Andrilla CHA, Woolcock SC, Garberson LA, Keppel GA, Patterson DG, Graves JM

Journal/Publisher:

WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington;

Edition:

Mar 2026.

Documents:

Policy Brief

Citation:

Andrilla CHA, Woolcock SC, Garberson LA, Keppel GA, Patterson DG, Graves JM. Dental Care Utilization Among U.S. Urban and Rural Residents. Policy Report. WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington; March 2026.

Related Studies:

Dentist Supply, Dental Care Utilization, and Oral Health Among Rural and Urban U.S. Residents: Exploring Changes in the Past 15 Years