Dental Practices by State: Complete 2026 Breakdown

1. Complete State-by-State Table

Below is the full breakdown of dental practices across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The data comes from our verified database of 146,444 dental practice records, cross-referenced with NPI registry data and Google Business Profile listings.

Source: DentistEmailList.com database, March 2026. Population estimates from US Census Bureau 2025.

2. The 10 Largest States

The top 10 states account for roughly 60% of all dental practices in the country. California alone has more dental practices than the bottom 20 states combined.

This distribution closely mirrors US population. The correlation isn't perfect though. Some states have significantly more or fewer dental practices per capita than the national average, which we explore in the next section.

3. Dentists Per Capita

The national average is about 43 dental practices per 100,000 residents. But this varies significantly. According to ADA data, the highest dentist-to-population ratios are in the District of Columbia (103.2 per 100K), Massachusetts, and northeastern states. The lowest ratios are in southern states like Arkansas (40.2 per 100K), Alabama, and Mississippi.

States with the most dental access (per capita):

• Washington, D.C. - highest dentist-to-population ratio in the country
• Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey - densely populated northeastern states with high dental practice concentration
• Oregon, Colorado, Washington - western states with above-average dental access

States with the least dental access (per capita):

• Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi - lowest dentist-to-population ratios
• Texas, Georgia, Indiana - large populations relative to dental practice count
• Nevada, Idaho - fast-growing populations outpacing dental practice growth

For B2B companies, this has practical implications. States with fewer dentists per capita may have less competition but also fewer prospects. States with high density (northeast, west coast) offer more targets but also more noise.

4. Regional Patterns

Northeast

The highest dental practice density in the country. States like New York (10,475), Pennsylvania (6,359), New Jersey (4,489), and Massachusetts (3,367) have mature, well-established dental markets. Solo practices are more common here, and DSO penetration is lower than the national average. These practices tend to be older, with established patient bases.

Southeast

Florida (8,978) and Georgia (4,115) are the largest markets. The Southeast has seen the fastest DSO growth, with states like Florida and Texas leading in DSO-affiliated practices. Lower per capita dental access in Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas means less saturation for dental suppliers but fewer total prospects.

Midwest

Ohio (5,237), Michigan (4,863), Illinois (5,985), and Indiana (2,618) make up the core Midwest dental market. The region has a high proportion of independent practices and is considered underserved relative to population in some rural areas. Good opportunity for dental suppliers who can offer competitive pricing.

West

California dominates with 20,950 practices, followed by Washington (2,211), Oregon (2,244), Colorado (2,992), and Arizona (2,992). The West has above-average dental access per capita and is generally more receptive to dental technology and SaaS products. DSO penetration is moderate but growing.

5. Dental Shortage Areas

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designates Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs) across the country. As of 2026, there are thousands of designated dental shortage areas, mostly in rural communities and underserved urban neighborhoods.

States with the most dental shortage areas tend to be large, rural states:

• Texas, California, and New York have the highest absolute number of dental HPSAs
• Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming have the highest proportion of population in shortage areas
• About 90% of dental practices report struggling with hiring staff, even in non-shortage areas

For recruiters and staffing companies, the shortage data combined with dental practice contact information can help target placements in the areas with the greatest need. For dental suppliers, shortage areas represent practices that may be especially receptive to efficiency-improving products.

6. Get the Contact Data

Every number in this article comes from our verified dental practice database. Each record includes practice name, address, phone number, email, website, specialty, and social profiles.

You can browse and purchase by individual state ($97 each) or get the full nationwide database for $497.