Number of dentists grows in Roughrider State

The number of dentists in North Dakota has grown steadily in the past few years, with almost 400 dentists practicing in the state now.

This compares with 320 five years ago, according to a Bismarck Tribune story that quoted the North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners. The dental board has issued 34 licenses this year and 37 last year. Before 2012, those numbers were in the 20s on an annual basis, the board said.

Membership in the state dental association has increased by 20% the past 10 years, particularly in the last few years.

Some of the young dentists are natives who left and are returning to North Dakota, while older, out-of-state dentists are coming to the state because of the economic boom, according to the article. Part of the increased demand for dental care is coming from people in the western part of the state, where waits for dentistry services are longer.

Some 69 dentists are licensed in Bismarck, and license applications have risen in Fargo, Williston, Dickinson, and Minot.