New Data: Dentist Shortages Affect 72% of U.S. Regions as 60% of Dental Practices Struggle to Hire

Source: "2025 Best Cities for Dentists in the U.S."

DentalGoodNews｜On local time in 2025, U.S. commercial financing institution Clarify Capital (hereinafter referred to as "Clarify") released the "2025 Best Cities for Dentists in the U.S." report, conducting a weighted analysis of six indicators including salary, employment rate, patient demand, reviews, and future employment growth across 98 major metropolitan areas in the United States. The report shows that Scottsdale, Arizona, due to its comprehensive performance in employment-related indicators, patient search demand, and future growth expectations, was rated as the best city for dentists to live and practice in the U.S.

In the overall ranking, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Orlando, Florida, ranked second and third, respectively. Among them, Raleigh boasts the highest density of dental positions in the U.S., while Orlando ranks in the top five in terms of patient search popularity and employment ranking. The top five cities also include Charlotte, North Carolina, and Miami, Florida, indicating that high compensation is not the sole criterion for career choice, and employment opportunities and market potential are equally important factors influencing dentist mobility.

Source: "2025 Best Cities for Dentists in the U.S."

In terms of compensation, Cape Coral, Florida, leads the nation with an average annual salary of $275,100 (approximately RMB 1.9945 million), surpassing the second-ranked Boston ($251,400) by about $23,700. Houston ranks third with $240,300. On the patient demand side, Cleveland, Ohio, has the highest search volume for "dentist near me" per 100,000 residents, reflecting a relatively high demand for oral healthcare services in the local area.

The survey shows that 60% of dental clinics nationwide are currently in a hiring state, with 84% of them reporting difficulty filling vacancies. Currently, 72% of respondents report a shortage of dentists in their area, and 57% of practitioners say that understaffing has led to patient appointment delays.

Source: "2025 Best Cities for Dentists in the U.S."

In terms of capital investment intentions, 47% of respondents said that if they obtained a commercial loan, they would prioritize purchasing new equipment, 45% would use it to increase employee salaries or distribute bonuses, 43% would expand recruitment, and 29% would consider expanding or renovating their clinics.