Dental practices & local economies

Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 1

Dentists do more than just help improve people's oral health. They also provide substantial benefits to the local economy – and beyond. A 2000 American Dental Association study found dentists’ total economic impact to be more than $200 billion. Dentistry accounted for more than two million jobs nationwide and taxes generated from dental activity totaled more than $33 billion.

These benefits add to the economy in the form of additional income for other businesses from expenditures by dental patients visiting from surrounding areas, dental employees, workers who supply goods and services to dental offices and governments that spend the taxes collected on the additional income.

Dental practices, most of which are small businesses, also provide substantial local benefits. In 2000, the annual economic impact of one additional dentist was estimated at more than $1.2 million. For small counties, that additional dentist provides a significant boost to the local economy.

In celebration of Labor Day, the WDA recognizes the numerous benefits dentists provide their patients and communities.

Healthy baby teeth
Tooth fairy folklore has enchanted children around the world for centuries while easing their worries about losing their baby teeth. In the United States, the tooth fairy gives children a gift (usually money) in exchange for a lost baby tooth.

Healthy baby (primary) teeth pave the way for healthy permanent ones. Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food and speak. Baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for adult teeth.

Early childhood caries (cavities), referred to as “baby bottle tooth decay” in the past, is a serious form of decay in young children. It is caused by frequent and long exposures to sweetened liquids such as milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.