The endodontic workforce.
The amount of endodontic care provided in the US requires an understanding of the supply and demand for such care. The supply side includes the number and location of endodontists, type of provider, and productivity. The demand side consists of the changing demographics of the age groups that endodontists predominantly treat along with changes in their dental health. To address these issues, we have compiled and analyzed data from American Dental Association (ADA) with other sources such as US government census data and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). From 1982 to 2002, the supply of endodontists increased at a rate greater than that observed with general practitioners or the other specialty areas. The growth of endodontists in relation to general practitioners is important. The latter are co-providers of endodontic care as well as a primary source for referral of patients to endodontists. Demographic and disease changes are likely to impact the need and demand for endodontic services. Endodontists' patients are generally between the ages of 25 and 64 yrs. Currently, the majority of endodontists' patients are members of the large baby boom generation who in 2000 ranged in age from their late 30s to their late 50s. During the next 20 yrs the Baby Boom generation will be replaced by the numerically smaller Generation-X cohort. This generation has experienced substantially less total caries than baby-boomers and they most likely will have fewer endodontic sequela as they age. A moderating factor that could partially offset the predicted decline in numbers of patients is the increased number of teeth that Generation-Xers are likely to retain. A flexible endodontic workforce strategy must assess the impending demographic and disease trends in relation to future growth rates of both endodontists and general practitioners.