A Cross‐Sectional Investigation of Rural Dental Practice as Related to Gender, Hometown, and Career Stage

More providers are needed to serve rural residents and graduates with rural upbringing are the most likely to fulfill this need. Rural practice appears to attract males and females in similar proportions, but more males than females gravitate towards low-population counties. Given populations and workforce trends, dental educators, policy makers, organized dentistry, and rural communities must all implement initiatives incentivizing dental practice in Alabama generally and her rural communities specifically.