Here are six states working to address the dental industry’s workforce shortages through legislation and programs: 1. The Maine legislature passed a bill creating a new pathway for prospective clinicians to earn an adjunct dentist license. 2. The authorization of…
Staffing Issues
The National Dental Association voiced its support for the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact. The Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact is backed by the American Association of Dental Boards as a streamlined pathway for dental professionals…
Dental practices in Virginia are having trouble with dental hygienist staffing, leading to many practices unable to meet demand for routine cleanings and preventive care, according to an Oct. 8 report from WHRO. Due to the shortage of dental hygienists,…
The Maine legislature recently passed a bill creating a new pathway for prospective clinicians to earn an adjunct dentist license, WGME reported Oct. 8. The bill allows applicants with international dentistry degrees to practice under the general supervision of a…
The American Dental Association has asked U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to clarify recent policy changes that could affect the dental education workforce. The new policies include restrictions for the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers and a new $100,000 fee…
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The American Dental Association is advocating for CMS to support strategies aimed at expanding the oral healthcare workforce. In response to new guidance for the agency’s Rural Health Transformation Program, the ADA highlighted the accessibility issues faced in rural areas…
Dental hygienists and dental assistants continue to be the most challenging roles for dentists to recruit, according to the American Dental Association’s “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report for the third quarter of 2025. The ADA’s Health Policy…
California currently has the highest employment of dental assistants, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here are five states and five cities with the highest employment of dental assistants: States California: 54,580 Texas: 31,360 Florida: 23,020 New…
California is the state with the highest employment of dental hygienists, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here are five states and five cities with the highest employment of hygienists: States California: 22,940 Texas: 16,010 Florida: 13,860…
The authorization of dental therapists is expected to be up for consideration again during Florida’s 2026 legislative session, but pushback from the Florida Dental Association could hinder this initiative once more, Florida Politics reported Sept. 22. Six notes: 1. The…