LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — As dentists’ offices across the country struggle to recruit and maintain staff, schools are facing more pressure to prepare the next generation of dental hygienists.
Bluegrass Community & Technical College in Lexington is home to one of just a handful of dental hygiene programs in the state, able to host about 48 students at a time in its 2-year program.
“It is a great way to get out in the workforce quickly and in a high-demand field. And you’d never have any trouble finding a job, that’s for sure,” said Mary Jones, dental hygiene program director and professor at BCTC.
Graduates are in high demand at offices across the country.
According to a recent survey from the American Dental Association and the Health Policy Institute (HPI), 94.9% of dentists labeled it “extremely challenging” or “very challenging” to recruit dental hygienists at their offices, as of December 2023.
Source: As dental offices face hygienist shortages, BCTC prepares the next generation / LEX18