One Houston-based dental practice has been operating with a quarter of its staff out, and other practices in East Texas are experiencing similar staff shortages during the pandemic, KLTV, an ABC affiliate, reported Sept. 28.
Four things to know about the region's workforce shortage:
- Megan Kiker, 3C Dental Group's regional manager for East Texas, said most of her offices have had absent staff members for about a year, while one office has been seeking a front desk employer for more than two months.
- Sachin Kocharekar, DMD, owner of Tyler, Texas-based Best Dental Care, said a dental hygienist at his office retired right before the start of the pandemic, and the pandemic has slowed the process of screening and onboarding a replacement.
- Matt Roberts, chair of the Texas Dental Association's council on legislative, regulatory and governmental affairs, said while he has not noticed a staffing shortage, they are common and were around before the pandemic.
- A May poll from the American Dental Association found that more than 80 percent of hiring dentists are experiencing recruitment challenges for several positions, including dental hygienists, dental assistants and administrative staff.