Fluctuations in the number and distribution of prosthodontists: 1987-1995.

PURPOSE

This article presents a review that used three ADA studies on the distribution of dentists to determine whether the number of private practice prosthodontists in the mid 1990s has kept pace with the population in the various regions and states.

RESULTS

Findings indicate that between 1987 and 1991 there was a marked national increase in numbers of prosthodontists followed by a marked decrease during the first half of the 1990s. There continued to be major differences, however, in practitioner-to-population ratios in different geographic areas. Since the mid 1980s, there has been a general increase in the number of graduates from prosthetic programs, but an increasing percentage of these graduates were foreign trained dentists.

CONCLUSION

There continues to be a need to determine the adequacy of the number and distribution of prosthodontists.