Dentist-to-population and practice-to-population ratios: in a shortage environment with gross mal-distribution what should rural and remote communities focus their attention on?

INTRODUCTION Australia is the sixth largest country (in area) in the world with a total area of over 7.5 million km² (3 million miles²). To date much of the research and policy activity in the dental workforce has been based on simple statistical analysis including practitioner-to-population ratios; however, risks are associated with the application of these types of ratios. This study examined practice-to-population (PtP) ratios as a measure of accessibility. METHODS Two states of Australia with a total population of about 8 million people were chosen for the study data frame-set. RESULTS General dental practice (n=3841) locations were mapped against population for each state and each suburb (n=3545) within each state. Practice-to-population ratios for each suburb differed by almost 40,000% (ranging from 1:52 to 1:20,100) with the greatest density of practices in the core of the capital cities - coincident with high wealth areas. CONCLUSION The study found that PtP ratios in the context of workforce mal-distribution and geographic impediments to access is an important measure.