Methods: All active Iowa private practice, general dentists were included in the study (N=1106). Data were extracted from the 2010 Iowa Dentist Tracking System, which monitors dentists on a semi-annual basis. The outcome was the dentist’s primary office location, which was categorized using Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes. Chi-square statistic test and multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations between rural practice location and several variables. Statistical significance was established as p<0.05.
Results: Although 15% of Iowa’s population resided in isolated small rural communities, only 8% of the general dentists have their primary practice in these communities. There is a consistent percentage of dentists across three age groups who practice in the most urban locations; whereas, dentists <40-years-old were least likely to practice in isolated small towns (p<0.001). Among male dentists, those who were born in Iowa (OR=1.78), were older (OR=1.24), and those who graduated from an out-of-state dental school (OR=1.69) were more likely to practice in rural locations than their counterparts. Among female dentists, solo practice was the only variable significantly associated with a rural location (OR=1.99).
Conclusions: Rural Iowa practitioners are primarily older males and native residents. State policy makers and planners will need to monitor the dentist workforce during the next decade as there will a dramatic increase in retirees concomitant with an increasing percentage of female dentists.