UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

This report uses data derived from a survey of 13,600 general dentists throughout California and constructs a picture of private dental practice in California; including staffing levels, wage and benefits, patient populations, and experiences in utilizing Allied Dental Health Professionals (ADHP). As it relates specifically to the question of a workforce shortage of ADHP, dentists reported on the length of time to hire these personnel, their perceptions of shortage, and the impact of a shortage on their practice. In this report, a shortage is examined by identifying delays in hiring dental hygienists and dental assistants, used to define a workforce shortage. The report also details various aspects of experienced shortages by examining geographic distributions where shortages may be more problematic and where efforts to alleviate shortage may be focused.