Elizabeth Mertz1, Cynthia Wides1, Jean Calvo2, Paul Gates3. 1. Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, Healthforce Center, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. 2. School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. 3. Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Health Center, Department of Dentistry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to describe the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) dentist workforce, their general practice patterns, and their contributions to oral health care for H/L and underserved patients. METHODS: A national sample survey of underrepresented minority dentists was conducted in 2012 and received a 35.4 percent response rate for self-reported H/L dentists. Data were weighted for selection and response bias to be nationally representative. A workforce profile of H/L dentists was created using descriptive and multivariable statistics and published data. RESULTS: Among all H/L dentists (weighted n = 5,748), 31.9 percent self-identify their origin as Mexican, 13.4 percent as Puerto Rican, 13.0 percent as Cuban, and 41.7 percent as another H/L group. The largest share of H/L dentists are male, married, and have children under age 18. Fifty percent of H/L dentists are foreign-born and 25 percent are foreign-trained. H/L dentists report higher than average educational debt, with those completing International Dentist Programs reporting the highest debt load. Sixty-nine percent of clinically active H/L dentists own their own practices, and 85 percent speak Spanish in their practice. Among clinical H/L dentists, 7 percent work in safety-net settings, 40 percent primarily treat underserved populations, and, on average, 42 percent of their patient population is H/L. CONCLUSIONS: H/L dental providers are underrepresented in the dentist population, and those that are in practice shoulder a disproportionate share of dental care for minority and underserved communities. Improving the workforce diversity of dental providers is a critical part of strategy to address the high burden of dental disease in the H/L population.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to describe the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) dentist workforce, their general practice patterns, and their contributions to oral health care for H/L and underserved patients. METHODS: A national sample survey of underrepresented minority dentists was conducted in 2012 and received a 35.4 percent response rate for self-reported H/L dentists. Data were weighted for selection and response bias to be nationally representative. A workforce profile of H/L dentists was created using descriptive and multivariable statistics and published data. RESULTS: Among all H/L dentists (weighted n = 5,748), 31.9 percent self-identify their origin as Mexican, 13.4 percent as Puerto Rican, 13.0 percent as Cuban, and 41.7 percent as another H/L group. The largest share of H/L dentists are male, married, and have children under age 18. Fifty percent of H/L dentists are foreign-born and 25 percent are foreign-trained. H/L dentists report higher than average educational debt, with those completing International Dentist Programs reporting the highest debt load. Sixty-nine percent of clinically active H/L dentists own their own practices, and 85 percent speak Spanish in their practice. Among clinical H/L dentists, 7 percent work in safety-net settings, 40 percent primarily treat underserved populations, and, on average, 42 percent of their patient population is H/L. CONCLUSIONS: H/L dental providers are underrepresented in the dentist population, and those that are in practice shoulder a disproportionate share of dental care for minority and underserved communities. Improving the workforce diversity of dental providers is a critical part of strategy to address the high burden of dental disease in the H/L population.
Authors: David E Hayes-Bautista; Mariam Iya Kahramanian; Erin G Richardson; Paul Hsu; Lucette Sosa; Cristina Gamboa; Robert M Stein Journal: J Dent Educ Date: 2007-02 Impact factor: 2.264
Authors: Salimah H Meghani; Jacqueline M Brooks; Trina Gipson-Jones; Roberta Waite; Lisa Whitfield-Harris; Janet A Deatrick Journal: Ethn Health Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Elizabeth A Mertz; Cynthia D Wides; Aubri M Kottek; Jean Marie Calvo; Paul E Gates Journal: Health Aff (Millwood) Date: 2016-12-01 Impact factor: 6.301