As retirements grow, RI in dire need of dentists, hygienists | Opinion
Dr. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum serves as state dental director at the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Medicaid program.
For many Americans, making the world a better place and helping others is the ultimate career goal. For young people with this in mind, a dental career is ideal – whether as a dentist or dental hygienist, or in support positions such as a dental assistant or lab technician.
For someone who chooses this rewarding field, you’ll certainly feel wanted. The unfortunate reality is that Rhode Island is short on dentists. That means people may have long waits for appointments, and overworked dentists may not participate in our state’s Medicaid program, which serves lower-income patients. Many of our dentists are nearing retirement age, and Rhode Island’s “dentist-to-population” ratio is already below the national average (55 dentists per 100,000 people in Rhode Island, versus 60 dentists per 100,000 people nationally). Even more concerning are local disparities in access to oral health professionals. Historically affluent areas like Providence’s East Side have a ratio of 118, whereas across the city in the neighborhood of Olneyville, the ratio is just 7.
Our state’s dental workforce also has a long way to go before it mirrors our population. The gender gap has narrowed: our cohorts of younger dentists are roughly half to half women and men. However, the very low proportion of dental professionals who identify as Black or Latinx does not mirror the diversity of our state. This affects patient care. Many patients appreciate a dentist who speaks their language and shares their life experiences. Research shows Black and Latinx dentists are more likely than their white peers to accept patients with Medicaid.
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Despite these challenges, the Rhode Island dental workforce has reached important milestones in recent years. The number of dentists under age 40 has increased. This trend is partly driven by increased hiring at federally qualified health centers and multi-office practices called dental service organizations. There are also great programs for loan repayment for dentists. Even though many professionals leave dental school with considerable debt, recent graduates who committed to either the military or public health service may receive full tuition reimbursement.
The flexibility is another great perk. Young people pursuing careers in dentistry have many options for where and how they practice, and some of their most rewarding experiences may be in unexpected places. My late colleague Dr. Armando Jimenez improved the dental health of inmates at the ACI in Cranston, helping to set them up for success after leaving prison. After a long career in the Navy and private practice, Dr. Marian Royer now goes to nursing homes treating patients with dementia and other chronic conditions. And the tens of thousands who drive by Samuels Dental Center on I-95 every day may not know that it provides care to patients with developmental disabilities, who often suffer from dental problems.
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For anyone who’s young (or not so young), hardworking and looking to make a difference, I strongly encourage the field of dentistry. Talk to your dentist or dental hygienist to see if you can shadow them on the job. Look for career fairs. The state’s Oral Health Program has an information table at both the annual Junior Achievement INSPIRE event and the TURNUPRI! Youth Summit.
Multiple stakeholders are working to further increase and diversify our dental workforce. The Rhode Island Oral Health Coalition and the Oral Health Program at the Department of Health are developing a Dental Workforce Strategic Plan. The team carried out extensive research and is laying out objectives in the areas of recruitment, retention, workforce education and training, and policy development.
Policymakers and others interested in health care should watch for the report and use the recommendations as a roadmap for addressing labor shortages and enhancing oral health for all Rhode Islanders.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Dentistry is a rewarding (and essential) career
