Prior research has confirmed increasing gender diversity in dental education programs and dental workforce. While there is discussion that the increasing gender diversity in dentistry will affect practice models, work hours, and the availability of specialty dentists or dentists in less populated areas, there is limited research that describes variation in characteristics of dental practice by gender. The Oral Health Workforce Research Center  (OHWRC) collaborated with the American Dental Association (ADA), to utilize the ADA Masterfile and Survey of Dental Practice (SDP) to describe gender diversity and to consider the overall impact for the future of the oral health workforce.

This report evaluates the differences by gender of dental professionals’ practice characteristics including employment status, working hours, and practice location.