Educational Pathways of Delaware Dentists: An Investigative Review of Dental Educational Records Dating Over 85 Years.

Objective: This report summarizes the findings from a comprehensive study conducted by The Delaware Academy of Medicine & Public Health's Delaware Health Force program on the educational pathways of Delaware dentists from 1939-2024. Methods: Delaware undergraduate education, dental school attendance, residency hospital training, and stage transition records were stratified by gender and license activity status for practicing Delaware dentists, and trends based on Delaware proximity and regional movements were identified. Shifts in the Delaware dental pipeline were also identified. Results: The most common educational pathway for Delaware dentists was to complete their undergraduate education in Delaware, move to Pennsylvania for dental school, and then return to Delaware for residency and training. Most Delaware dentists remained in the Northeast for their entire training pathway. Conclusion: There is subtle regional diversity in the pathways of Delaware dentists, with an overwhelming leaning towards educational training at all levels in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the country.