Core Research Area

Iowa is a leader in oral health policy research related to the training, experience, and factors that shape the dental workforce, including dentists, hygienists, assistants, and other dental workforce staff.

Dental Workforce Publications

Randomized experiment on the effect of incentives and mailing strategy on response rates in a mail survey of dentists

Thursday, March 3, 2022
Susan C. McKernan, Julie C. Reynolds, Brooke McInroy and Peter C. Damiano, Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 2022

Predictors of Multiple Job-Holding among Dental Hygienists in the State of Iowa

Sunday, February 21, 2021
Predictors of Multiple Job-Holding among Dental Hygienists in the State of Iowa, Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2021

Relationship between community-level variables and number of general dentists

Sunday, April 29, 2018
Raymond A Kuthy, Susan C McKernan, Mark Pooley and M. Bridget Zimmerman

Dental Workforce Reports

Lisa Hebl receiving a check

Alumna Lisa Hebl highlighted on KCRG

Thursday, August 6, 2026
Dr. Hebl turned a dental service trip into The Guatemala Project. It has built nearly 300 homes in Guatemala.
Jeff Banas

New Gerber Foundation Award Will Test Home-Based Strategy to Prevent Early Childhood Tooth Decay

Thursday, August 6, 2026
With support from the Gerber Foundation, Jeff Banas and Mike Kanellis are leading a study to evaluate a simple, home-based approach that could help prevent tooth decay among children at highest risk for disease.
Ahmad Alkazaleh headshot

Alkhaza'leh named operative dentistry graduate program director

Wednesday, August 5, 2026
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics has named Dr. Ahmad Alkhaza'leh graduate program director for the Advanced Education Program in Operative Dentistry, effective Aug. 3, 2026.