Introduction Access to postgraduate dental specialty training is shaped by national selection and placement systems as well as training capacity, and constitutes an important component of healthcare workforce planning. In Türkiye, despite the recent increase in the number of dental graduates, the relatively limited expansion of specialty training positions has raised concerns about growing competition for access to dental specialty programs. This study aimed to examine long-term trends in competition for dental specialty training based on Dental Specialty Examination (DUS) data, from a healthcare workforce perspective and in relation to the international context. Methods This retrospective study analyzed official data from the Dental Specialty Examination (DUS), the national postgraduate selection examination for dental specialty training in Türkiye, covering the period from 2015 to 2025. Data on applicant numbers, specialty training quotas, and placement outcomes were obtained from national statistics. Competition intensity was assessed using the applicant-to-quota ratio for each examination period. To account for the transition from annual to biannual examinations after 2023, temporal trends were analyzed using multiple linear regression, including examination period and exam frequency as independent variables. Results Across 14 examination periods, the number of applicants demonstrated a consistent upward trend, while specialty training quotas showed year-to-year fluctuations without proportional growth. The applicant-to-quota ratio increased from 4.16 in the first examination period analyzed (2015) to 10.07 in the final examination period (2025). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated a statistically significant rise in competition intensity over time (β = 0.36, p = 0.032), whereas examination frequency was not a significant predictor ( p = 0.853). Orthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery consistently showed the highest competition levels and placement score thresholds among all specialties. Conclusion Access to dental specialty training in Türkiye has become increasingly competitive over the past decade, reflecting structural constraints within the dental workforce system rather than shifts in individual career preferences alone. The findings highlight the importance of considering national specialty examinations not only as placement mechanisms but also as indicators of healthcare workforce dynamics, underscoring the need for multidimensional and internationally informed approaches to dental workforce planning and specialty training capacity.
İpek Çubukcu Özekin (Wed,) studied this question.