Growing population diversity challenges New York State dentists.

Minority populations are becoming an increasingly larger component of the general population. A review of 2000 Census demographic-related data for the increasing number of minority children in New York State presents concerns regarding parental household living arrangements, family income, neighborhood characteristics, parental employment, education and disability rates. As minority populations increase in size, their children may well become the mainstay of dental practices, from now into adulthood. The challenge will be for practitioners to recognize these (and many related) factors as they develop programs to provide needed oral health services.