Saturday, 22 June 2013

Is It Hard To Find A Dentist In Sacramento County?

By Roxy Albright


If you think it is difficult to find a good dentist in Sacramento County, you might not have room to be complaining. A report released in June 2009 from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has shone the light on the circumstances surrounding dentists in California. The numbers from the study has shown that it is not the easiest to find a dentist in Sacramento County, but it is easier than a few other counties that have fewer dentists per person. We will talk about various statistics and what they reveal about the ability of residents to find a good Sacramento cosmetic dentist or other dentist.

First, we will discuss some statistics regarding dentistry and population in California's counties. Second, we will talk about Sacramento in particular, and what statistics can tell us about finding the right dentist in Sacramento. Finally, we will talk about what services dentists typically can offer Sacramento citizens.

To put it simply, dentists are less available in some parts of California compared to others. It would be great if California's estimated 26,465 actively practicing dentists were evenly spread out so that every part of the population had equal access, but that is just not the case. More rural areas tend to have fewer dentists per 5,000 people, but they also tend not to have any "Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas" (DHPSAs). For example, while there are only 1.4 active dentists per 5,000 Colusa county residents, the county has zero DHPSAs. Los Angeles County on the other hand has 3.3 active dentists per 5,000 residents and 37 DHPSAs.

Locating a good dentist in Sacramento County is more probable in some areas of the county than in other areas. Sacramento County has three DHPSAs. However, the county and all of the state of California are equal in total number of estimated active dentists at 3.5 for each 5,000 residents. Sacramento County is also equal to California as a whole in the percentage of active dentists who are still in their first five years after licensure (15%). This percentage is smaller than some counties that have many fairly inexperienced dentists such as San Bernardino County (22%). Short of living in one of Sacramento County's three DHPSAs, you probably have a good shot of having decent access to a good dentist among this county's roughly 990 active dentists.

Finding a good dentist in Sacramento County probably depends on the kind you need or want. There are dentists of various types after all. Some have focus areas such as orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, or family dentistry, for example. A Sacramento cosmetic dentist could offer you services such as veneers, teeth whitening, or others. Study up on your nearby dentists before you make a choice.

No matter if you are looking for a Sacramento cosmetic dentist or some other type, you likely will have an easier time getting an appointment with a dentist in Sacramento County than people have in other California counties.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment