A look at allied dental education in the United States.
BACKGROUND
The American Dental Association conducts surveys of educational programs in dental assisting, dental hygiene and dental laboratory technology. The 2002-2003 survey included questions about enrollment, graduates, program information and trends.


METHODS
The ADA Survey Center mailed the Survey of Allied Dental Education to 548 program directors of dental assisting, dental hygiene and dental laboratory technology educational programs. They also sent several follow-up notices as a reminder to complete the survey. A 100 percent response rate is mandatory for continued accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Association staff members resolved inconsistencies in the data and analyzed them before producing a final report.


RESULTS
The number of applications to, first-year enrollment in and number of graduates in dental hygiene and dental assisting educational programs have increased during the last five years. During the same period, the number of applications to, and graduates of, dental laboratory technology educational programs decreased, but first-year enrollment increased slightly.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from these surveys help address the concerns of the public and the profession regarding allied dental manpower levels. They also provide information for those interested in applying to individual allied dental educational programs.


CONCLUSIONS
Private dental practices employ the majority of graduates of allied dental educational programs. Recent graduates of dental assisting and hygiene programs continue to supply the office staff members needed to support the delivery of dental care.
Brown
L Jackson
LJ
Health Policy Resource Center, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. brownja@ada.org
Wagner
Karen Schaid
KS
Mikkelsen
Matthew C
MC
Munson
Bradley
B
D000571:American Dental Association; D002568:Certification; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003800:Dental Technicians / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003813:Dentistry; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce