Dental industry leaders are grappling with how to bring more professionals into the workforce as states continue to deal with shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are 10 fast facts about where the dental workforce stands now, and where it could be headed next:
1. There are currently more than 7,000 dental professional shortage areas in the U.S., according to data from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
2. California currently has the highest number of dental professional shortage areas at 529.
3. Ten states have joined the interstate Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact to help alleviate workforce shortages. Sixteen states have legislation pending to join the compact.
4. Approximately 37.5% of dental practice managers are planning or are actively pursuing a job change within the next few years, according to Dentalpost’s 2025 Dental Salary Survey Report.
5. About 22.9% of dental office managers plan to retire within six years.
6. More than half of all dental assistants are currently applying for new jobs or planning to do so before 2026.
7. About 21% of dental assistants plan to retire within the next six years.
8. About 12% of dental hygienists are currently applying for new jobs or are planning to do so before 2026.
9. Nearly a third of dental hygienists plan to retire within the next six years.
10. Thirty-four percent of dentist owners plan to retire within six years.
Source: Dentistry’s growing workforce crisis / Becker’s Dental + DSO Review