Aging Workforce and Workforce Shortages: The Looming Public Crisis

Northern New England’s dental profession is facing an escalating public health crisis driven by an aging workforce and a lack of new practitioners. This study analyzes workforce demographics, retirement trends, and access disparities between 2015 and 2025 across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Using a mixed-method design with workforce reports, GIS mapping, and practitioner interviews, the paper identifies the impact of demographic change on service availability and oral health access. Results reveal that nearly half of dental practitioners in the region are nearing retirement, with minimal replacement in rural areas. The paper calls for urgent workforce policy interventions—such as loan repayment incentives, pipeline programs, and dental therapy integration—to sustain oral health services and prevent a worsening crisis in Northern New England.