Workforce census finds no dentist shortage in Ga.

The Georgia Dental Association (GDA) has long contended that there is no shortage of dentists or dental hygienists in Georgia.

Now a workforce census conducted by the Georgia Health Policy Center and Market Decisions supports assertions by the GDA that Georgia does not have a dental supply issue. It found that only 19 out of 4,044 dentists practicing in Georgia cannot accept new patients. The GDA plans to move forward with programs and initiatives addressing the numerous reasons Georgians choose not to access dental care.

The census was the first of its kind in Georgia, according to Martha S. Phillips, executive director of the GDA, and the organization intends to utilize the data to determine how it can find appropriate solutions to barriers to dental care.

Here are more of the study's findings:

• The vast majority of dentists (3,312) reported that while their practices are busy, they are still accepting new patients.
• 309 dentists reported the need for more patients, and 31 dentists reported their practices were struggling.
• 43% of public health clinics reported that they are not busy because patients schedule but fail to show up for treatment.
• Patients of record in Georgia can get an appointment in 5.4 days, a new patient can get an appointment in 6.1 days, and patients can be seen almost immediately for emergencies.
• 104 dentists not currently providing Medicaid services are willing to do so if the care management organizations would credential them; this would add 12% to the Medicaid provider network.
• In counties without a dentist, no patient has to drive more than 22.9 miles, or 35 minutes, to see a dentist.
• 15 federally qualified health centers offer dental services, and four of these see patients with no wait.
• Two-thirds of locum tenens dentists report they could work more days per week.

Census questions were designed to capture data on more than just the number of actively practicing dentists in Georgia. Practice locations, participation in Medicaid, public health and federally qualified health center clinic data, and patient care statistics at the College of Dental Medicine also were gathered.