Enrollment and graduation numbers from dental hygiene programs in the U.S. are up across the board, yet a large majority of dentists are still struggling to recruit hygienists.
According to data from the American Dental Association, first-year enrollment in dental hygiene programs has climbed 16% since 2020, and 2025 produced the highest number of dental hygiene graduates at nearly 8,000.
More than 90% of dentists who have actively been recruiting dental hygienists over the past three months said that it has been “very” or “extremely” challenging, according to an April report from the American Dental Association.
With more hygienists entering the workforce, the opposite should be happening in terms of recruitment, but it simply isn’t. So what is going on with the dental hygiene workforce?
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association has said that dental hygiene workforce shortage is “retention” rather than a “supply” crisis. The organization has pressed for more transparent compensation, competitive benefits, accountable workplace culture, professional autonomy, license portability, targeted pipeline growth and professional development for dental hygienists.
The retirement and exit gap
Even with more hygienists coming out of school, job growth within the dental industry has remained flat for the past 12 months, growing by just 0.5%. The total number of dental office jobs increased by less than 0.1% between January and February 2026, according to the ADA.
More than a quarter of dental hygienists are planning to retire within the next five years, according to a February 2026 report from Dentalpost. Thirty-four percent of dental hygienists are younger than 45 years old, down from 38% in last year’s report.
A 2023 survey from the ADA investigated the reasons why hygienists voluntarily leave the dental field. Negative workplace culture, a lack of opportunities for growth and advancement and inadequate benefits were the three most common responses.
The wage ceiling problem
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for dental hygienists reached $98,990 in 2025, increasing 21.6% over the past five years.
However, the average wage for dental hygienists has actually decreased, according to the ADA.
About two-thirds of dental hygienists, dental assistants and associate dentists are unhappy with their compensation, and nearly 60% of respondents have not received a pay raise in the past year, according to a survey conducted by GoTu, a dental staffing marketplace.
Many dentists and dental practices cannot afford to pay dental hygienists the salaries they are seeking, exacerbating the shortages inside practices.
How is the industry responding?
Some states are considering alternative pathways for dental hygienists, aiming to increase the number of available hygienists.
The Rhode Island Senate advanced a bill to create a licensure pathway for foreign-trained dentists and hygienists, allowing foreign-trained hygienists to be eligible for limited licenses. The measure awaits consideration in the state House.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation that allows hygienists to practice at hospitals without general supervision from a dentist, expanding hygienist autonomy.
A number of schools have also expanded their dental hygiene programs, with the Oregon Institute of Technology launching a fully online Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program, and the College of Eastern Idaho earning accreditation for a dental hygiene program.
The pipeline is growing, and states are beginning to act, but until practices can afford to pay hygienists what they want and hygienists have enough reason to stay in the field once they’re in it, more graduates alone won’t close the gap.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.