ADA.org: Future of Dentistry Full Report

FUTURE OFDENTISTRY

Dental Student Diversity

The demographic profile of dental students, and of
the dental applicant pool, is a key indicator of the abil-
ity of dentistry to improve its diversity. Recent studies
indicate that individuals prefer to be treated by physi-
cians and other professional caregivers that share the
patients' racial and ethnic background. The demo-
graphics of dentists in practice, research and education
and the student population are not reflective of the
nation's population.

GENDER

During the past 30 years significant changes have
occurred in the gender composition of the dental
student body. As shown in Figure 6.2, the number
of women enrolled in dentistry increased dramati-
cally, and appears to have leveled at 35% to 38% of
overall enrollment.
The dental school experience for women students
has improved considerably as the proportion of
women in the dental student body has risen.

Women students feel less isolated than before, and

are forming strong peer support networks.

MINORITY POPULATION ENROLLMENT

In 1998, 34% of first-year dental school enrollees

were members of minority groups, an increase from

only 13% in 1980. Nationwide, the majority of this

increase is due to Asian/Pacific Islander students enter-

ing dental school in substantially larger numbers.

Enrollment of Asian/Pacific Islander students

increased from 5% of enrollees in 1980 to about 24%

in 1998. Enrollments of other minorities, primarily

African American, Hispanic, and Native American

students, have increased only slightly from 7.5% in

1980 to nearly 10% in 1998 (Valachovic, 2000).

Most minority enrollment gains were achieved in the

1980s. As Table 6.5 illustrates, the enrollment of

under-represented minority students has declined

appreciably since 1994. Much of that decline is due to

a decrease in the enrollment of African American den-

tal students. Data reporting the enrollment of

Hispanic dental students is also disappointing. During

Dental Education

First-Year U.S. Dental School Enrollment by Gender,

1970-1998

Source: ADA, Surveys of Predoctoral Dental Educational Institutions.

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

FIRST-YEAR ENROLLMENT

YEAR

Male Enrollment Female Enrollment

19

70

19

75

19

78

19

80

19

82

19

84

19

86

19

88

199

0

199

2

FIGURE 6. 2

199

4

199

6

199

8

19

76