Course Objectives (2 CE Credits)

Analyzing demographic data can tell us where we have been and where we are headed. For the first time in history, people today can reasonably live to be old; thus, life expectancy is on the rise. A "middle-age spread" is developing in the U.S. as the baby boom generation ages. In the coming decades, this will lead to a bulge in the elderly population, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for dentistry. This article by Dr. David Schwab gives several reasons for why this aging population will increase the demand for dentistry, including:

• The sheer number of aging baby boomers
• Patients who have had dental treatment in the past will need increased dental maintenance
• As patients become more educated through scientific literature, the Internet and the media, many older patients will demand dental care as part of their attention to overall health issues
• Patients who have been putting off dental treatment due to the recent economic downturn have even greater needs now, especially the elderly
• An increasing number of "young-old" (those aged 65–74), who have greater dental needs than their younger counterparts, are delaying retirement to counter the economic downturn, giving them more disposable income

Summary

Demographic data is inexorable; thus, demographics are destiny. Dr. David Schwab argues that the destiny of dentistry is positive for at least the next two decades. This is largely because the aging baby boomer generation will significantly increase the demand for dentistry due to a number of factors, including the sheer force of its numbers.