Economic growth in the U.S. dental industry, 1950-1977.

This paper addresses the issue of economic growth in the U.S. dental industry. The rates of growth in real output in the dental industry and in the U.S. economy are compared for the period 1950-1977. The annual dental rate of 4.5 percent is significantly greater (P .001) than the 3.7 percent rate for the economy. In addition, inflation has been less in dentistry than in the economy. The consequences of growth of the dental industry are also discussed.