Abstract
Background
In Saudi Arabia, demand for specialized restorative dental services is increasing; however, the literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of the country’s restorative dentistry workforce profile. Understanding the workforce profile is essential for developing realistic, targeted policies and plans to optimize dental services. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively explore the restorative dentistry workforce profile in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
This cross-sectional study descriptively analyzed the demographic characteristics and professional profile of all restorative dentists registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties in December 2024, at both national and provincial levels. Using 2024 population estimates, the restorative dentist-to-population ratio was calculated nationally and for each of the 13 provinces.
Results
There were 2,047 restorative dentists practicing in Saudi Arabia, representing 5.80 dentists per 100,000 people. Saudi nationals constituted the majority of the workforce; males were the predominant gender, and consultants represented the largest professional rank. A pronounced provincial disparity was evident, with dentist-to-population ratios ranging from 8.61 to 0.25 per 100,000 across the 13 provinces. This disparity was further pronounced in provinces with the lowest dentist–population ratios, where proportions of consultants and training residents were also lower than national averages.
Conclusion
Despite the marked growth in the number of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia, significant provincial disparities persist. Future studies should explore the underlying causes of these disparities and design targeted strategies to address them.
Keywords: Demographics, Restorative dentistry, Saudi arabia, SCFHS, Workforce distribution
Contributions to the literature
This study presents the first comprehensive, nationwide profile of the restorative dentistry workforce in Saudi Arabia, filling an important gap in regional public health evidence.
By analyzing the workforce at both national and provincial levels, this study provides the first evidence of significant geographic disparities in access to specialized restorative dental care.
These findings offer an essential evidence base for policymakers to create targeted strategies aimed at achieving a more even distribution of the dental workforce across the country.
Background
Restorative dentistry, a recognized dental specialty in Saudi Arabia, is concerned with diagnosing, preventing, and managing carious lesions and other structural anomalies of the teeth and their supporting structures [1]. Accordingly, restorative treatment aims to alleviate pain, enhance esthetics, and restore both form and function within the oral cavity [1]. These objectives can be achieved through a broad spectrum of procedures, ranging from traditional invasive interventions to advanced conservative and biomimetic techniques [2, 3]. The specialty continues to integrate technological innovations and novel biomaterials to improve clinical outcomes and support long-term oral health [2, 3].
Exploring and understanding the healthcare workforce profile, including that of restorative dentistry, is crucial for developing realistic and effective workforce plans and formulating targeted policies that can optimize dental services [4]. For example, analyzing the restorative dentistry workforce profile can assess an important aspect of the dental care capacity at both national and provincial levels [5]. This can also reveal disparities in capacity among different provinces, which is a key factor in oral health inequality [5]. Another benefit for policymakers is evaluating diversity and inclusion within the restorative dentistry profession, represented by aspects such as gender and ethnicity [6]. Lastly, by considering the number of practitioners about to enter the workforce, workforce trajectories can be forecasted, helping policymakers further optimize dental care services [4].
In Saudi Arabia, significant population growth compounded by high caries prevalence indicates an increasing demand for specialized restorative dental services [7, 8]. For instance, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis investigating caries prevalence in Saudi Arabia reported a mean caries prevalence of 67.7% (range 36.7%–83.7%) in the permanent dentition [8]. In addition, the pooled estimate for the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index was 1.28 [8]. However, caries prevalence among underserved adult populations was found to be significantly higher in rural areas of Saudi Arabia, at 98%, with a median DMFT of 13 [9]. Thus, this necessitates a closer examination of the restorative dentistry workforce in Saudi Arabia. Although several studies have assessed the broader dental workforce in the country, none has provided a detailed analysis of its restorative dentistry component [10–13]. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the restorative dentistry workforce profile by examining the demographic and professional characteristics of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
Study design and data source
This descriptive study employed a cross-sectional design. Demographic data and professional ranks for all restorative dentists registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) in Saudi Arabia were obtained from the SCFHS registry using a census-based approach in December 2024.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
The inclusion criteria consisted of all actively practicing restorative dentists who are classified and registered by the SCFHS. No exclusion criteria were applied as the study aimed to conduct a complete census of the eligible population to ensure comprehensive data collection.
Variables of interest
The variables of interest included the total number of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia, stratified by nationality (Saudi vs. non-Saudi), gender (male vs. female), professional ranking (Table 1), and the province in which they practice (covering all 13 Saudi provinces).
Table 1.
Ranks of dentists in Saudi Arabia according to the SCFHS [14]
| Rank | Description |
|---|---|
| Consultant | A dentist who holds a certificate from the first or second group, has the required experience for the consultant level, and has completed all other classification requirements. |
| Senior Registrar | A dentist who holds a certificate from the first or second group and has not completed the required experience for the rank of consultant. |
| Registrar | A dentist who holds a certificate from one of the third group certificates and has completed all other classification requirements. |
| Resident | A dentist who holds a certificate from one of the third group certificates and has not completed the required experience for the rank of registrar. |
| Training Resident | A dental student enrolled in a postgraduate training program in Saudi Arabia. |
| General Dentist | A dentist who holds a bachelor's degree in dentistry from a recognized dental college in the country of origin and has completed all other classification requirements. |
Statistical analysis
The demographic characteristics and professional ranks of the restorative dentists’ workforce were presented as counts and percentages. In addition, the distribution of restorative dentists across the 13 provinces of Saudi Arabia was examined by professional rank, nationality, and gender.
The ratio of restorative dentists to population was calculated both at the national level and for each of the 13 provinces. This was done by dividing the number of practicing restorative dentists by Saudi Arabia’s 2024 population forecast (or by each province’s population, as applicable) and then multiplying by 100,000 [7].
Ethical approval
The study complied with the Saudi National Committee of Bioethics regulations and received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (IRB# NRR25/061/1). The analysis used de-identified SCFHS registry data, and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (IRB# NRR25/061/1) granted a waiver of informed consent.
Results
There were 2,047 restorative dentists practicing in Saudi Arabia. This corresponds to a restorative dentist–to–population ratio of 5.80 per 100,000 people. Saudi dentists constituted the majority of the workforce, accounting for 1,710 (83.54%) of restorative dentists. Males comprised a slight majority (1,063; 51.93%).
Table2. presents a detailed breakdown of the demographics of restorative dentists practicing in Saudi Arabia, categorized by professional rank. Among these ranks, consultants accounted for the largest cohort (656; 32.05%), whereas general dentists with a special interest in restorative dentistry comprised the smallest group (82; 4.01%). Residents were the only rank in which non-Saudi dentists outnumbered Saudi dentists. Notably, all training residents were Saudi, with a slight female majority (225; 54.88%).
Table 2.
Workforce demographics of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia by professional rank
| Rank | Saudi Male N (row %) |
Saudi Female N (row %) |
Non-Saudi Male N (row %) |
Non-Saudi Female N (row %) |
Total N (column %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant |
315 (48.02%) |
258 (39.33%) |
48 (7.32%) |
35 (5.34%) |
656 (32.05%) |
| Senior Registrar |
207 (46.94%) |
199 (45.12%) |
17 (3.85%) |
18 (4.08%) |
441 (21.54%) |
| Registrar |
107 (29.56%) |
88 (24.31%) |
90 (24.86%) |
77 (21.27%) |
362 (17.68%) |
| Resident |
21 (21.88%) |
25 (26.04%) |
27 (28.13%) |
23 (23.96%) |
96 (4.69%) |
| Training Resident |
185 (45.12%) |
225 (54.88%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
410 (20.03%) |
| General Dentist |
44 (53.66%) |
36 (43.90%) |
2 (2.44%) |
0 (0.00%) |
82 (4.01%) |
| Total |
879 (42.94%) |
831 (40.60%) |
184 (8.99%) |
153 (7.47%) |
2047 (100.00%) |
At the provincial level, only two provinces, Riyadh and ’Asir, had dentist-to-population ratios higher than the national ratio, at 8.61 and 7.63, respectively. Four provinces had ratios below 2.00, which are Al Bahah, Al Jawf, Tabuk, and Northern Borders. These provinces also had a lower proportion of dentists in higher-ranking groups (consultant and senior registrar), with Al Jawf as the sole exception. In addition, they had a lower proportion of training residents in their workforce than the national average. Twenty-six dentists were temporarily outside Saudi Arabia at the time of data acquisition, and provincial location data were unavailable for 163 dentists. Table 3 and Fig. 1 present a detailed breakdown of restorative dentists across Saudi provinces by professional rank. Table 3 and Fig. 2 report provincial restorative dentist–to–population ratios.
Table 3.
Distribution of restorative dentists across provinces in Saudi Arabia by professional rank
| Provinces of Saudi Arabia | Consultant N (row %) |
Senior Registrar N (row %) |
Registrar N (row %) |
Resident N (row %) |
Training Resident N (row %) |
General Dentist N (row %) |
Total N (column dentists per 100 K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Bahah |
0 (0.00%) |
2 (28.57%) |
3 (42.86%) |
1 (14.29%) |
1 (14.29%) |
0 (0.00%) |
7 (1.92) |
| Al Jawf |
6 (60.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
3 (30.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
1 (10.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
10 (1.55) |
| Al Madinah |
29 (33.72%) |
16 (18.60%) |
17 (19.77%) |
3 (3.49%) |
17 (19.77%) |
4 (4.65%) |
86 (3.70) |
| Al-Qassim |
13 (24.53%) |
8 (15.09%) |
14 (26.42%) |
1 (1.89%) |
13 (24.53%) |
4 (7.55%) |
53 (3.68) |
| Asir |
34 (20.99%) |
48 (29.63%) |
24 (14.81%) |
8 (4.94%) |
41 (25.31%) |
7 (4.32%) |
162 (7.36) |
| Eastern Province |
64 (37.87%) |
31 (18.34%) |
38 (22.49%) |
7 (4.14%) |
23 (13.61%) |
6 (3.55%) |
169 (2.99) |
| Hail |
8 (26.67%) |
6 (20.00%) |
5 (16.67%) |
0 (0.00%) |
10 (33.33%) |
1 (3.33%) |
30 (3.68) |
| Jizan |
10 (24.39%) |
6 (14.63%) |
7 (17.07%) |
1 (2.44%) |
15 (36.59%) |
2 (4.88%) |
41 (2.71) |
| Makkah |
162 (36.08%) |
105 (23.39%) |
83 (18.49%) |
19 (4.23%) |
67 (14.92%) |
13 (2.90%) |
449 (5.15) |
| Najran |
5 (25.00%) |
6 (30.00%) |
4 (20.00%) |
1 (5.00%) |
3 (15.00%) |
1 (5.00%) |
20 (3.09) |
| Northern Borders |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
1 (100.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
1 (0.25) |
| Riyadh |
294 (35.99%) |
195 (23.87%) |
118 (14.44%) |
35 (4.28%) |
131 (16.03%) |
44 (5.39%) |
817 (8.61) |
| Tabuk |
1 (7.69%) |
2 (15.38%) |
7 (53.85%) |
1 (7.69%) |
2 (15.38%) |
0 (0.00%) |
13 (1.35) |
| Outside KSA |
10 (38.46%) |
7 (26.92%) |
6 (23.07%) |
3 (11.54%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
26 (N/A) |
| Unknown |
20 (12.27%) |
9 (5.52%) |
32 (19.63%) |
16 (9.82%) |
86 (52.76%) |
0 (0.00%) |
163 (N/A) |
| Total |
656 (32.05%) |
441 (21.54%) |
362 (17.68%) |
96 (4.69%) |
410 (20.03%) |
82 (4.01%) |
2047 (5.80) |
Fig. 1.
Distribution of restorative dentists across provinces in Saudi Arabia by professional rank
Fig. 2.
Restorative dentist-to-population ratios across provinces in Saudi Arabia
Table 4 and Fig. 3 present a detailed breakdown of restorative dentists by nationality across Saudi provinces. Tables 4 and Fig. 4 report a detailed breakdown of restorative dentists by gender across Saudi provinces. In contrast to the numbers at the National level, only two provinces, al Jawf And Northern Borders, had more non-Saudi than Saudi dentists. In addition, four provinces, al Bahah, Makkah, Riyadh, And Tabuk, had a higher proportion of female than male dentists.
Table 4.
Distribution of restorative dentists across provinces in Saudi Arabia by nationality and gender
| Regions of Saudi Arabia | Saudi N (row %) |
Non-Saudi N (row %) |
Male N (row %) |
Female N (row %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Bahah |
4 (57.14%) |
3 (42.86%) |
3 (42.86%) |
4 (57.14%) |
| Al Jawf |
4 (40.00%) |
6 (60.00%) |
9 (90.00%) |
1 (10.00%) |
| Al Madinah |
70 (81.40%) |
16 (18.60%) |
54 (62.80%) |
32 (37.20%) |
| Al-Qassim |
37 (69.81%) |
16 (30.19%) |
36 (67.92%) |
17 (32.08%) |
| Asir |
148 (91.36%) |
14 (8.64%) |
116 (71.60%) |
46 (28.40%) |
| Eastern Province |
134 (79.29%) |
35 (20.71%) |
105 (62.13%) |
64 (37.87%) |
| Hail |
27 (90.00%) |
3 (10.00%) |
19 (63.33%) |
11 (36.66%) |
| Jizan |
35 (85.37%) |
6 (14.63%) |
25 (60.98%) |
16 (39.02%) |
| Makkah |
376 (83.74%) |
73 (16.26%) |
187 (41.65%) |
262 (58.35%) |
| Najran |
17 (85.00%) |
3 (15%) |
20 (100.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
| Northern Borders |
0 (0.00%) |
1 (100.00%) |
1 (100.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
| Riyadh |
752 (92.04%) |
65 (7.96%) |
393 (48.10%) |
424 (51.90%) |
| Tabuk |
8 (61.54%) |
5 (38.46%) |
6 (46.15%) |
7 (53.85%) |
| Outside KSA |
1 (3.85%) |
25 (96.15%) |
18 (69.23%) |
8 (30.77%) |
| Unknown |
97 (59.51%) |
66 (40.49%) |
71 (43.56%) |
92 (56.44%) |
| Total |
1710 (83.54%) |
337 (16.46%) |
1063 (51.93%) |
984 (48.07%) |
Fig. 3.
Distribution of restorative dentists across provinces in Saudi Arabia by nationality
Fig. 4.
Distribution of restorative dentists across provinces in Saudi Arabia by gender
Discussion
This study is the first to provide a detailed exploration of the workforce profile of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, 2,047 restorative dentists were practicing in Saudi Arabia, representing an approximately twofold increase over the past four years [11]. This marked rise is part of a continuous trend that has been observed in Saudi Arabia among all practicing dentists since 2016 [10]. This increase can be mainly attributed to the significant expansion in the dental education system over the last decade [11, 15]. There was a notable surge in the establishment of new dental colleges beginning in 2010 [11]. In addition, the number of postgraduate training seats in restorative dentistry has grown more than fourfold over the past decade [15]. This may reflect the strategic government policies in Saudi Arabia that aim to address the oral health needs of its population, resulting in significantly more dental professionals entering the workforce every year [16].
The current number of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia corresponds to a dentist–to–population ratio of 5.80 per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the ratios reported for other dental specialties in the country [12, 13]. This elevated ratio may reflect the specialty preferences of many recent dental graduates [17]. In addition, it may reflect policymakers’ response to the increased demand for restorative treatment, driven mainly by the high caries prevalence among the population [8]. However, defining an appropriate dentist–to–population ratio within any healthcare system is not straightforward, as it depends on numerous factors such as system structure, workforce productivity, and accessibility, in addition to population need [18]. For example, many European Economic Area countries report an adequate ratio around 80 dental specialists per 100,000, whereas a South African study identified a ratio of only 0.19 to 0.21 per 100,000 [19, 20]. This disparity highlights the need for future research to determine the appropriate ratio of restorative dentists within Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system, striking a balance between meeting population needs and avoiding professional oversupply.
Saudi dentists constituted the majority of the restorative dentist workforce in this study. This represents a significant shift in less than 10 years, during which Saudi specialist dentists were the minority [10]. This shift is most likely the result of a deliberate governmental policy that aims to reduce reliance on non-Saudi dentists and to prioritize the employment of Saudi graduates, as part of a broader national strategy to reduce dependence on expatriate professionals [10, 11]. The nationalization effort in Saudi Arabia appears more effective than in other Gulf countries, where foreign dentists represent the majority of the workforce [21, 22].
There are slightly more male restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia, with the difference more pronounced at higher ranks. This may reflect historical structural barriers that many women faced in the dental field, as well as established male-dominated networks that can facilitate men’s career progression compared with women’s [23]. Another cause of this gender gap can be attributed to societal and cultural expectations of women regarding family and domestic responsibilities [24]. These factors can lead to extended career breaks or part-time work arrangements that may eventually hinder career progression [24].
The gender gap, however, appears to be closing, especially when comparing the magnitude of the gap with previous studies [10, 11]. In fact, based on the current number of training residents, the gap is likely to close further and may even reverse in favor of female restorative dentists. This trend of more female dentists entering the workforce is a global phenomenon, which can be attributed to several factors [25, 26]. For instance, many historical barriers preventing women’s admission to dental programs have been removed [26]. In addition, over recent decades, several legislative reforms and supportive public policies have played a key role in this transition by reducing work barriers and supporting flexible working conditions, which allowed women to achieve their desire of a better work–life balance [26, 27]. Societal changes are another important factor as gender norms and social expectations evolve in relation to dentistry even in countries such as Pakistan where gendered access was previously restricted [27, 28].
There was a pronounced disparity in restorative dentist supply across Saudi Arabia’s 13 provinces, with dentist-to-population ratios ranging from 8.61 down to 0.25 per 100,000 people. Provinces with the lowest ratios also had a smaller proportion of dentists in higher-ranking groups, as well as training residents among their workforces. These disparities are especially notable among Saudi restorative dentists, who represent the majority of the workforce.
One of the most cited reasons for regional disparities is the urban concentration of dental professionals [29, 30]. This is consistent with the findings of this study, in which provinces with the largest urban centers in Saudi Arabia also had the highest ratios. Urban concentration is usually attributed to larger populations, better career opportunities, advanced infrastructure, and more robust referral networks, which translate into better financial rewards [29, 30]. Another reason for urban attractiveness is the availability of dynamic cultural and social amenities [31]. A further possible cause of these disparities is the location of dental education and training institutions, as it has been demonstrated that dentists usually prefer to practice near their training institution [32]. The observed disparities can also be attributed to a number of socioeconomic and access-to-care factors. For example, lower income and wealth have been significantly associated with lower dentist-to-population ratios [33, 34]. In addition, insurance coverage can influence these ratios by altering demand for dental services [35].
As the data in this study are aggregated at the level of Saudi Arabia’s 13 provinces, confirming the relationship between these factors and dentist-to-population ratios was not feasible without risking ecological bias. Future research using city-level data to investigate the associations between these factors and the restorative dentist-to-population ratio is needed.
One of the primary objectives of this study was to assess the availability of specialists and dentists with advanced training in restorative dentistry whose clinical privileges allow them to provide secondary and tertiary care, including complex restorative treatments. A key limitation is that the study cannot estimate the total restorative dental care capacity in Saudi Arabia because it does not capture general dentists who provide restorative treatment. General dentists were excluded from this study because SCFHS registration data do not record procedure volumes in restorative dentistry, which vary considerably among general dentists. Therefore, while the dentist–to–population ratios in this study offer insight into the health system’s capacity to deliver secondary and tertiary complex restorative care, future research is needed to evaluate the overall restorative dental care capacity.
An additional limitation of this study is the lack of comparable, specialty-specific data from neighboring countries, which limits cross-country benchmarking. Another limitation is that the provincial location of 163 restorative dentists was unknown. Because there was no reason to suspect systematic differences among provinces, these dentists were assumed to be distributed in proportion to each province’s population size. However, in provinces with smaller populations, if a substantial number of these dentists practiced there, it could significantly alter their dentist–to–population ratios or the distribution of restorative dentists by rank or gender. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted with caution, particularly for smaller provinces.
This descriptive study provides valuable insight into Saudi Arabia’s restorative dentistry workforce profile and could inform the development of several relevant, testable hypotheses with the potential to strengthen the country’s healthcare system. For instant, future research should determine the optimal restorative dentist–to–population ratio at both the national and provincial levels. In addition, even though the findings of this study suggest that urbanization and dentist nationality could contribute to provincial disparities, additional studies are needed to confirm these relationships and explore other potential causes. Last, researchers should also evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies that can help close the provincial gap in restorative dentist supply.
Conclusion
This study reveals a marked growth in the number of restorative dentists in Saudi Arabia over the last few years with the current number of restorative dentists is 2,047 representing 5.80 dentists per 100,000 people. While male Saudi dentists remain the largest group, rising numbers of female dentists, especially Saudi ones, indicate a narrowing gender gap. The study also revealed a pronounced disparity in restorative dentist supply across Saudi Arabia’s 13 provinces, with dentist–to–population ratios ranging from 8.61 to 0.25 per 100,000 people. This disparity is further evident in the lower proportion of dentists in higher-ranking groups and among training residents in provinces with the lowest dentist–to–population ratios. Therefore, future research should investigate the causes of this disparity and develop various strategies that can help close this gap.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the SCFHS for providing the data that contributed to this study.
Abbreviations
- SCFHS
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties
Authors’ contributions
Authorship contribution statement F.B: Writing- original draft, Writing- review & editing, Visualization, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. H.Q: Writing- original draft, Writing- review & editing, Visualization, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Conceptualization.
Funding
The study did not receive funding.
Data availability
The dataset used and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Declarations
Ethical approval and consent to participate
The study complied with the Saudi National Committee of Bioethics regulations and received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (IRB# NRR25/061/1). The analysis used de-identified SCFHS registry data, and the IRB granted a waiver of informed consent.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Footnotes
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
The dataset used and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.