Dental Practices

The 120,488 Dental practices in the US are in the business of providing “oral health,” including hygiene or preventative care, restorative treatments, and oral surgery. 78% of dentists are in general dentistry, while orthodontists represent 5% and oral surgeons and pediatric dentists each represent 4%. The rest are specialty practices, such endodontists or periodontists. About half of dentists are in solo practices.

Strength Of Economy Affects Demand

Demand for dental services had been thought to be “recession-proof,” but the past recession and recent pandemic saw a drop in dental appointments and billings.

New Treatment Technologies

Technological advances continue to increase quality, enhance patient comfort, and speed the delivery of dental treatments.

Sep 1, 2026 - AI may Help Dental Teams Build Some Software Tools

• AI is making it possible for dental teams to build custom software, according to Dentistry IQ. The approach is best suited for rule-based, repeatable processes like revenue cycle management, insurance, and reporting. Dental knowledge remains crucial, as AI tools lack context about specific workflows and clinical nuances, requiring professionals to interpret and validate results. Data quality is vital because AI cannot fix poor or inconsistent data, so practices must prioritize data hygiene before building tools.
• Less than half the people with dental coverage get preventive visits every year, according to dental industry expert Melissa K. Turner. Insurers are being challenged by employers to help their members use the benefit they are paying for, Turner says. More preventive care utilization and treating dental problems earlier means lower downstream costs for employers and insurers.
• About 63% of dental practices surveyed for revenue cycle management firm Zentist reported net collection rates of 90% or higher. About 71% of respondents identified real-time insurance verification as their primary daily challenge. Some 31% of respondents cited increasing patient out-of-pocket costs as the single trend most likely to impact business performance in 2026.
• Dental practice employment and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased slightly during the first six months of 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Dental Practices slightly raised their prices during the first seven months of 2026, according to the BLS. Dental practice sales are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.05% from 2026 to 2030, faster than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund.

Industry size & Structure

The average dental practice employs about 9 workers and generates about $1.3 million in annual revenue.

• There are about 120,488 dental practices in the US that employ 1,045,500 workers and generate annual revenue of $160 billion.
• Dentists must be licensed by their State to practice. This requires a bachelor's degree, 4 years of dental school, and passing written and practical exams. Specialty licenses typically require another 2-4 years of postgraduate education and up to 2 years of a residency program. These licensing requirements create a significant barrier to entry for the industry.
• 78% of dentists are in general dentistry. Orthodontists represent 5% and oral surgeons and pediatric dentists each represent 4%, with the rest in other specialties (endodontists, periodontists, etc.).
• The average practice has 1-2 dentists and about 2 dental hygienists and 3 dental assistants for each dentist.