Restorative dentistry workforce in Saudi Arabia: national profile and provincial disparities

In Saudi Arabia, demand for specialized restorative dental services is increasing; however, the literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of the country’s restorative dentistry workforce profile. Understanding the workforce profile is essential for developing realistic, targeted policies and plans to optimize dental services. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively explore the restorative dentistry workforce profile in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study descriptively analyzed the demographic characteristics and professional profile of all restorative dentists registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties in December 2024, at both national and provincial levels. Using 2024 population estimates, the restorative dentist-to-population ratio was calculated nationally and for each of the 13 provinces. There were 2,047 restorative dentists practicing in Saudi Arabia, representing 5.80 dentists per 100,000 people. Saudi nationals constituted the majority of the workforce; males were the predominant gender, and consultants represented the largest professional rank. A pronounced provincial disparity was evident, with dentist-to-population ratios ranging from 8.61 to 0.25 per 100,000 across the 13 provinces. This disparity was further pronounced in provinces with the lowest dentist–population ratios, where proportions of consultants and training residents were also lower than national averages. Despite the marked growth in the number of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia, significant provincial disparities persist. Future studies should explore the underlying causes of these disparities and design targeted strategies to address them.