American Dental Association (ADA)

The ADA Masterfile contains the most up-to-date information on dentists in the United States. The masterfile is a database of all dentists, practicing and nonpracticing, in the United States. It is updated through a variety of methods, including reconciliation with state licensure databases, death records, and various surveys and censuses of dentists carried out by ADA.

ADA’s Health Policy Institute conducts annual surveys of predoctoral dental educational institutions. A questionnaire, mailed to all dental schools, collects information on academic programs, admissions, enrollment, attrition, graduates, educational expenses and financial assistance, patient care, advanced dental education, and faculty positions.

The database includes professionally active dentists, defined as those who are listed as licensed, not retired, living in the 50 states or District of Columbia, and having a primary occupation of private practice (full- or part-time); dental school or faculty staff members; armed forces; other federal services (that is, Veterans’ Affairs or Public Health Service); state or local government employee; hospital staff dentist; graduate student, intern, or resident; or other health or dental organization staff member. This database excludes dentists who are located in U.S. territories or U.S. armed forces overseas. When calculating dentist location by state, the dentist’s business location is used, when available.

Reference

• American Dental Association. Tables 1 and 3. In: Health Policy Institute: Supply of dentists in the U.S.: 2001–2023.

For more information, see the ADA website.