UCLA researchers revise dental study findings

The Center for Health Policy Research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) said a technical error in the center's recent study, "Distribution and Characteristics of Dentists Licensed to Practice in California, 2008," resulted in a slight underestimation of the total number of active dentists in the state.

The technical error occurred because some ZIP codes cross into two counties, the center explained in a press release.

In the revised fact sheet, all dentist practice addresses are geocoded to avoid incorrect county assignment of dentists. The revisions do not substantively change the overall findings of the study, the center said.

The corrected information is as follows:

• The number of dentists practicing in California is 26,500, previously estimated at 26,400.
• The number of dentists licensed but not actively practicing is 4,500, previously estimated at 4,600.
• San Benito County has a ratio of 1.5 dentists per 5,000, previously estimated as "less than one."
• Inyo County has a ratio of 2.2 dentists per 5,000, previously estimated as "less than one."
• Yuba County has a ratio of less than one dentist per 5,000, previously not estimated as a shortage area.
• Statewide, 14% of active dentists report practice in more than one location, previously estimated at 15%; 19% of dentists have been licensed for 30 or more years, previously estimated as 20%; and among newly licensed dentists, 44% are female, previously estimated as 45%.

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