Tennessee Dental Establishments: 2007-2012 Economic Survey.

Objective: To document the evolving economies of dental establishments in the State of Tennessee during a period of significant growth of the number of establishments before and after the "Great Recession."

Method: Published results from the five-year economic surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau on business receipts and salaries of employees (including dentists) for the State of Tennessee and its counties were used to construct a review of these developments.

Results: Between 2007 and 2012, there were continued increases in average current dollar business receipts and employee salaries. However, in terms of standard dollars, removing the effects of inflation: 1) business receipts increased in 19 counties but decreased in 37 counties; 2) employee salaries increased in 13 counties but decreased in 30 counties.

Conclusions: Results are in line with the reports by the ADA Health Policy Institute, which indicate that nationally the percentage of dentists who report they are not busy enough has increased and dentists' earnings are stagnating. The need is to expand the delivery of care to underserved populations, including the poor, individuals with disabilities, minorities and new immigrant populations, for whom oral health services may not be a priority commodity.