Improving the racial and ethnic diversity of the nation’s dentists is critical in efforts to reduce disparities in access to care and health outcomes and to better address the oral health needs of an increasingly diverse US population. Half of all Hispanic/Latino (H/L) dentists in the US are foreign born, and about 1 in 4 were initially trained outside the US.

This report examines the trends in H/L dentists’ education and pathways to practice; analyzes practice patterns of H/L dentists by pathway; and describes the licensure and educational environment for foreign-trained dentists (FTDs), with a focus on opportunities to enhance workforce diversity and improve access to care for both underserved and H/L populations.