Will a larger hygienist pipeline solve dentistry’s labor crisis?
By Ariana Portalatin
Originally at beckersdental.com
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Dental practice owners and DSOs face continued hygienist shortages that directly limit production and revenue; the article examines whether expanded hygiene-school enrollment will close the gap or if retention and scope-of-practice changes are also required.
Key points
- National dental-hygiene program enrollment has rebounded after a COVID-era dip, but the rebound pace is still slower than pre-pandemic levels.
- Industry observers note that new graduates alone will not solve staffing shortfalls unless retention rates and licensure portability improve.
- Practices with high hygiene turnover continue to report lost chair time and reduced recall capacity, directly affecting net production.
- Some states are exploring expanded scope-of-practice rules and licensure compacts to retain existing hygienists and attract out-of-state candidates.
Who should care
Read the original on Becker's Dental + DSO Review
Full reporting and any paywall content live on beckersdental.com. We summarize and score; we do not republish.
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