Professional dental manpower requirements in Singapore--an overview.

Factors affecting professional dental manpower supply are wide-ranging and varied. Currently much attention has been focussed on the number of dentists serving the population. Whilst the difficulties encountered by new graduates in setting up private practice is real, the indicators for manpower need should not depend solely on this factor. Long term considerations of supply and demand factors should be weighed against short term decisions in planning. This paper attempts to examine some of the factors that have a bearing in the demand for dental care and recommendations are made.