Friday, June 21, 2013

Statistics For Finding An Active Dentist In Sacramento

By Roxy Albright


If you feel like it's too hard to find a dentist in Sacramento County, you probably don't have too much room to complain. A fact sheet released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in June 2009 has shined the light on the state of dentistry in California. The findings of their research have shown that it isn't the easiest to find a dentist in Sacramento, but also that it's easier than many other counties that have fewer dentists per capita. We will visit various statistics and analyze some of the things they reveal about your ability to find the right Sacramento cosmetic dentist.

First, we will look into a few stats about dentistry and the population of all of California. Second, we will talk about Sacramento County specifically, and what these numbers can help us know about finding a dentist in Sacramento. Third, we will talk about what kinds of dentists Sacramento residents might be searching for.

To put it simply, dentists are less available in some parts of California compared to others. It would be great if California's estimated 26,465 actively practicing dentists were evenly spread out so that every part of the population had equal access, but that is just not the case. More rural areas tend to have fewer dentists per 5,000 people, but they also tend not to have any "Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas" (DHPSAs). For example, while there are only 1.4 active dentists per 5,000 Colusa county residents, the county has zero DHPSAs. Los Angeles County on the other hand has 3.3 active dentists per 5,000 residents and 37 DHPSAs.

Locating a good dentist in Sacramento County is more probable in some areas of the county than in other areas. Sacramento County has three DHPSAs. However, the county and all of the state of California are equal in total number of estimated active dentists at 3.5 for each 5,000 residents. Sacramento County is also equal to California as a whole in the percentage of active dentists who are still in their first five years after licensure (15%). This percentage is smaller than some counties that have many fairly inexperienced dentists such as San Bernardino County (22%). Short of living in one of Sacramento County's three DHPSAs, you probably have a good shot of having decent access to a good dentist among this county's roughly 990 active dentists.

Getting a good dentist in Sacramento County likely depends on what you need or want from them. There are dentists of all kinds. Some focus on areas like orthodontics, family dentistry, or cosmetic dentistry. A Sacramento cosmetic dentist, for example, would focus more on services like teeth whitening, veneers, or others. Study up on local dentists before you make a decision.

No matter if you are looking for a Sacramento cosmetic dentist or some other type, you likely will have an easier time getting an appointment with a dentist in Sacramento County than people have in other California counties.




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