Access to Dental Care
What does this measure?
This indicator measures the availability of dental care in several New York counties and across the state. It quantifies the number of general and specialty dental practices, providing a breakdown of different dental specializations like oral surgeons, orthodontists, and pediatric dentists, among others. This data helps assess the accessibility and variety of dental services within each region.
Summary Statement
The data shows a significant variation in access to dental care across different counties, particularly specialty practices. While Westchester County has a large number of both general and specialty practices, with 399 general practices, and 171 specialty practices, counties like Sullivan and Putnam have notably fewer, with Sullivan having no reported oral surgeons, Endodontists, Pedodontists, or Periodontists. The number of specialty practices is consistently low in smaller counties, suggesting residents there may need to travel to access specialized dental services. Overall, there is a clear correlation between population size and the number of available dental practices.
Source