Using data available for 1972 and 1982, the geographic spread o f dentists in the RSA, and dentist to pohdation ratios were studied. In general the numbers o f dentists per magisterial district have increased but only 5 per cent o f dentists are in rural districts (population <10 000). Dentist to population ratios decreased irregularly over the 10 year period, more in urban than in rural distri...