title: The Black dentist workforce in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to describe the Black dentist workforce, the practice patterns of providers, and their contributions to oral health care for minority and underserved patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national sample survey of underrepresented minority dentists was conducted in 2012 and received a 32.6 percent response rate for self-reported Black dentists. Data were weighted for selection and response bias to be nationally representative. Descriptive and multivariable statistics were computed to provide a workforce profile of Black dentists. National comparisons are provided from published data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all Black dentists (weighted n = 6,254), 76.6 percent self-identify as African-American, 13.2 percent as African, and 10.3 percent as Afro-Caribbean. The largest share of Black dentists are male, married, heterosexual, born in the United States and raised in a medium to large city. One third of Black dentists were the first in their family to graduate from college. Black dentists report higher average educational debt than all dental students, with graduates from International Dentist Programs having the greatest debt. Traditional practices (i.e., private practices) dominate, with 67.1 percent of Black dentists starting out in this setting and 73.5 percent currently in the setting. Black dentists care for a disproportionate share of Black patients, with an average patient mix that is 44.9 percent Black. Two in five Black dentists reported their patient pool is made up of more than 50 percent Black patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The underrepresentation for Black dentists is extraordinary, and the Black dentists that are in practice are shouldering a disproportionate share of dental care for minority and underserved communities.
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, Healthforce Center, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mertz
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, Healthforce Center, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wides
authors.affiliation: Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Health Center, Department of Dentistry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gates
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003815:Dentists / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: African-Americans; dentist's practice patterns; health workforce; survey research