Here are nine new statistics and trends showing how the dental assistant workforce is evolving:
1. Dental assistant job satisfaction has declined over the last 10 years, with only about 50% of dental assistants feeling satisfied with their jobs in 2026. One in three dental assistants reported being unsure of how long they will stay in the profession, according to the Dental Assisting National Board’s 2026 Dental Assistant Hiring and Retention Report.
2. Certified dental assistants are more likely to stick with the same employer, with 86% of CDAs remaining at their jobs for the last year compared to 70% of non-certified dental assistants.
3. About 1 in 5 dental assistants have changed jobs within the last year.
4. Dental assistant employment is projected to increase by 7% between now and 2035.
5. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted there will be an average of about 53,000 openings for dental assistants each year over the next decade, driven by the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.
6. Dental assisting programs in the U.S. have seen a 5.2% decrease in total enrollment since 2021, according to new data from the ADA.
7. Seventeen states enacted or implemented changes to dental assistant requirements between April and July 2026.
8. Around two-thirds of dental assistants are unsatisfied with their compensation and benefits, according to a survey from GoTu, a dental talent marketplace.
9. More than 73% of dentists have an adequate number of dental assistants at their practice, according to a report from the American Dental Association.
