Shortages of Dental Personnel and Their Consequences for Healthcare

Introduction: The shortage of medical personnel remains one of the most acute problems in the domestic healthcare system; within dental services, this issue is particularly critical due to significant geographical and structural disparities in the distribution of specialists. Rising public demand for dental care—driven by demographic shifts and increased life expectancy—coincides with a declining influx of young specialists into primary care, a migration of personnel to the private sector, and uneven dentist staffing levels across regions. Official statistics indicate that the supply of dentists in a number of Russian regions falls short of established standards, directly impacting the accessibility and quality of care provided. This study is necessitated by the need for a systemic analysis of the factors driving this workforce imbalance and for the development of evidence-based management strategies to address it. Objectives: comprehensive assessment of the staffing situation in the dental service of the Russian Federation, identification of key factors contributing to the shortage, and development of scientifically grounded proposals to address it. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using departmental data from the Russian Ministry of Health, Rosstat, and the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (FOMS) for the period 2019–2025, covering indicators of the availability of dentists and dental practitioners, workforce structure, age distribution, and staff turnover. Regulatory acts governing healthcare workforce policy were examined. Comparative, statistical, and content analysis methods were employed. Results: It has been established that the average supply of dentists in the constituent entities of the Central Federal District is 3.1 per 10,000 population, against a benchmark of 4.0. The proportion of dentists of retirement age exceeds 28%. A positive correlation was identified between salary levels and the retention of young specialists. The primary factors contributing to the shortage were determined to be the lack of prestige associated with working in primary care, low motivation among graduates, and the underdeveloped state of targeted training programs. Conclusions: Addressing the shortage of dental personnel requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving targeted training mechanisms, modernizing incentive and motivation systems, advancing digital technologies in education and practice, and strengthening the role of primary care. Implementing these measures helps improve the accessibility and quality of dental care for the population.