In 1998, 581 dentists reported practicing in Maine. Seventy five percent of the dentists reporting a primary specialty (393) reported that they were general practitioners - the same proportion as in 1994.
Since 1986, the proportion of general practice dentists younger than age 35 has diminished by more than half while the proportion of general practice dentists who are 45-54 years old has more than doubled, from 16% of all general practitioners to 37%.
For the first time in 1998, dentists aged 45 to 54 made up the largest proportion (37%) of general practice dentists in Maine. In fact, less than 40% of general practitioners were younger than 45 in 1998, while 4 years earlier in 1994, 52% of these dentists were in that age group. The average age of general practice dentists was 48 years old.
In 1998, there was 1 general practice dentist for each 3,160 residents; nationally, there was 1 general practice dentist for each 2,628 residents.1
Nearly 40% of Maine's general practice dentists would not accept Medicaid as payment for their services in 1998; 63% of them reported that they would consider accepting Medicaid payment if reimbursement were increased, paperwork were reduced, or there was payment for missed appointments. Another 25% reported that they would not accept Medicaid payment even if all of these changes were made in the system.