Supply of dentists improving in remote areas - report

The number of dentists employed in remote/very remote areas increased markedly in recent years, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The report, Dental Workforce 2011, shows that the number of dentists employed increased by almost 49% between 2006 and 2011 in remote/very remote areas. The number has also increased across Australia generally, up 22.4% between 2006 and 2011, with increases in all geographical areas. Despite having the smallest growth at 19%, major cities continue to have more dentists per capita than other areas in 2011, with 64.1 full-time equivalent dentists per 100,000 population, AIHW says.