“Feminization” in German dentistry. Career paths and opportunities — A gender comparison

SynopsisThe proportion of female dentists in Germany has considerably increased during the last two decades. Given this development many health experts now speak of a “feminization” of dentistry. However it is unclear whether this term relates mainly to quantitative changes or to meaningful issues such as the influence of women within this medical sector, and filling positions of professional and political relevance.This article focuses on this question. Based on recent surveys, an analysis of existing literature, and an interpretation of available statistics, we draw five conclusions: (1) The proportion of female graduates has steadily increased during the period under study. (2) Female dentists are less likely to establish their own practice than their male colleagues. (3) The limited access of female dentists to lucrative subfields continues despite the increasing proportion of women. (4) The number of women in executive positions remains limited. (5) A minor influence of female dentists on professional politics is verifiable.