Negative workplace culture is the top reason why dental hygienists are voluntarily leaving the industry, while dental assistants most frequently leave due to insufficient pay, according to dental workforce shortage research from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
The workforce data was collected from thousands of dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants in 2022.
Here are the top reasons dental hygienists and dental assistants reported for voluntarily leaving their respective fields:
Dental hygienists
Negative workplace culture: 42.9 percent
Lack of opportunities for growth and advancement: 34.8 percent
Inadequate benefits: 32.6 percent
Overworked: 32.1 percent
Communication concerns in the practice: 27.2 percent
Insufficient pay: 26.6 percent
Safety concerns related to COVID-19: 26.1 percent
Career has not been satisfying: 25.5 percent
Practice philosophy: 23.9 percent
Family situation changed: 22.8 percent
Planned to retire at this time in their career: 17.4 percent
Flexible work schedule needed: 14.7 percent
Patient attitudes: 14.1 percent
Dental assistants
Insufficient pay: 46 percent
Negative workplace culture: 34.8 percent
Overworked: 34.8 percent
Lack of opportunities for growth and advancement: 33.3 percent
Inadequate benefits: 29.8 percent
Communication concerns in the practice: 25.8 percent
Family situation changed: 20.7 percent
Career has not been satisfying: 18.2 percent
Planned to retire at this time in their career: 15.2 percent
Flexible work schedule needed: 11.6 percent
Practice philosophy: 10.6 percent
Safety concerns related to COVID-19: 8.6 percent
Patient attitudes: 5.6 percent
Pursued a career as a dental hygienist: 0.5 percent