Dental manpower in India: changing trends since 1920.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the changing trends in dental manpower production of India since 1920 and its development to date.


METHODS
The databases consulted were those provided by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, Dental Council of India, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics.


RESULTS
In India, dental education was formally established in 1920 when the first dental college was started. Current data revealed that there are 301 colleges nationwide granting degrees in dentistry, with a total of 25,270 student positions offering annually. Both the distribution of dental colleges and of dentists varies among the regions of the country with the greatest concentration in major urban areas, resulting in limited coverage in rural regions.


CONCLUSIONS
The current scenario indicates that there is lack of systematic planning in the allocation and development of dental colleges in India.
Department of Public Health Dentistry, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences, Takkellapadu, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Ashish K
AK
Jaiswal
Pachava
P
Srinivas
Sanikommu
S
Suresh
D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012424:Rural Population; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population
Dental education; India; colleges; dentist to population ratio; manpower; students; workforce