Dental underemployment: a study of uncontrolled dental manpower immigration.

In the 1980s three studies were conducted in Israel utilising different methods of dental manpower evaluations. All identified a large future surplus of dentists. The current study re-evaluates the manpower supply and discusses possible solutions. A random sample of 800 dentists was approached by three mailings and a telephone call follow-up with a response of 49.7 per cent. Almost 90 per cent of dentists reported an undersupply of patients, with a mean working load of 26.3 hours/week, but being willing to add up to 3.4 working hours/week. The oversupply of dentists has been dramatically affected by the addition of almost 1000 dentists who emigrated to Israel in 1991-92. To prevent a significant unemployment rate among dentists and an uncontrolled free market, it is urgently suggested for the benefit of both provider and consumer that; the demand for services be increased and additional financing of dental care be made available, that the total number of dentists be decreased by various measures and that their geographical distribution be improved. If necessary limits should be placed on the number of practices or the number of patients permitted per practice.