Baby boomer retirement and the future of dentistry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The dental workforce, like the Australian population, is ageing. As the large baby boomer cohort retires dental shortages will likely increase. METHODS: Australian Bureau of Statistics census data from 1986 to 2001 were used to examine ageing of the dental workforce and attrition of dentists aged 50 years and over. The number of dentists to retire was projected over the next 20 years. RESULTS: Since 1986, the dental workforce has aged significantly (p < 0.01). About half of the current dental workforce is projected to retire by 2026. Generation X dentists are significantly less likely to work long hours than the baby boomer cohort of dentists (p 41 per week) than male baby boomer..