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Timothy Brown, PhD¹, Tracy Finlayson, PhD², and Richard M. Scheffler, PhD¹. (1) Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare, University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, 140 earl Warren Hall, MC7360, Berkeley, CA 94720, (2) School of Public Health, UC Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, MC7360, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, 510-642-5652, tracyf@berkeley.edu

Objective: To determine if there was a shortage in the labor markets for registered dental hygienists (RDHs) or dental assistants (DAs) in California anytime between 1997-2005.

Methods: We examined demand for dental services (state expenditures, percent with visits and insurance) and supply and market-determined wage data for RDHs and DAs. Rising average inflation-adjusted wages indicated a labor shortage. Employment and wage data were from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey.

Results: Demand for services increased 11.2% from 1997 to 2004. State dental expenditures rose 18.6% from 1995 to 2000. Between 1995-2003, the percentage with dental insurance increased 18.1%.

From 1999-2002, wages for RDHs increased by 48% then stabilized at a higher level, indicating a fairly severe RDH shortage. There was little supply response in the population-adjusted number of RDHs.

Wages for DAs increased 13.9% between 1997-2001. There was a large supply response in the population-adjusted number of DAs to this wage increase. Their numbers rose 28% from 1997 until their peak in 2003, resulting in wages returning to 1997 levels by 2005.

Conclusions: Inflation-adjusted wages increased for both RDHs and DAs, suggesting there were labor shortages during this time period. Labor markets for these professions behaved differently, and the DA shortage was corrected by increasing supply. Study results have implications for understanding and responding to labor market changes for RDHs and DAs in California.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the factors that affect the supply and demand of the allied dental workforce.
• Describe the labor markets for dental hygienists and assistants, and discuss how the labor market for each can change over time.
• Discuss implications for dental workforce planning at the state and local levels.

Keywords: Workforce, Oral Health

Related Web page: www.cdafoundation.org/study/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 478.0 kb)