Dentists across Virginia are scrambling to fill a statewide shortage of dental hygienists.
The gap is most acute in Northern Virginia, according to the Virginia Dental Association.
“There’s a huge imbalance in the number of hygienists to dentists right now and Fairfax County is feeling it the worst,” Dr. Justin Norbo, the association’s president-elect, who owns a dental practice in Loudoun County, told WTOP News.
The shortage is even affecting patient care at some dental practices, as there aren’t enough hygienists to schedule regular six-month cleanings and X-rays for patients.
Some patients have been wait-listed, instead of getting in to see their dentist.