The above links will take you to the Center for the Health Professions site.

Arizona Dental Workforce & Services Analysis

The Center for California Health Workforce Studies at UCSF, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Health Systems Development, analyzed dental workforce data on the distribution of dental providers and the availability of dental care services in Arizona. This project focused on profiling the statewide distribution of dental services in Arizona in order to inform oral health policy in Arizona.

Arizona has diverse oral health care needs. In terms of population, Arizona continues to be one of the fastest growing states in the nation, with an expected population increase of 34% by the year 2010. Geographically, Arizona is the sixth largest state, covering approximately 114,000 square miles. Arizona is an ethnically diverse state. Hispanics comprise 19% of the state population -- 10% higher than the national average. American Indians comprise close to 6% of Arizona's population, compared to less than 1% nationally. Arizona is home to 21 federally recognized American Indian tribes. Arizona is also a seasonal home to large numbers of migrant farmworkers, the homeless and older adults. These population groups tend to be underserved. Anecdotal evidence has shown that the dentist to population ratio in Arizona is rising and that the retirement rate of dentists may increasingly affect access to care for Arizona's population.

Project Goal: To advance/verify the understanding of the distribution and composition of the dental workforce in Arizona and the patterns of care delivery for different population groups.

This project seeks to answer these key questions:

• What is the current distribution and composition of the dental workforce?
• What is the current distribution of services provided by dental professionals?
• What is the current availability and distribution of services for Medicaid recipients?
• What other services are available for underserved populations?
• What new strategies can be implemented to expand access to oral health services?

Publications:
Full Report

Project Staff:
Beth Mertz, MA, Project Director
Kevin Grumbach, MD, Principal Investigator
Kneka Hayward, RDH, Director, Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Oral Health
Julia K. Wacloff, RDH, MS, Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Oral Health
Judy A. White, RDH, MPH, Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Oral Health

Funding:
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, Bureau of the Health Professions and the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration

For more information please contact Beth Mertz at 415-502-7934 or bmertz@thecenter.ucsf.edu.