Workforce shortages are the biggest factor preventing dental practices from recruiting dental assistants and hygienists, according to a new poll from the American Dental Association.

Two states are considering legislation that would expand the scope of practice for dental professionals, and the American Dental Association is calling for more attention to workforce shortages and oral health disparities. 

As of August 2021, less than half of dental hygienists who left employment early in the pandemic returned to the workforce, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Dental Hygiene.

The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow dental hygienists to apply for permits to work independently, Alaska Native News reported Feb. 18.

From sudden practice closures to budget proposals, below are five dental moves happening in the Great Lakes State:

The American Dental Association called Feb. 17 for federal authorities to prioritize the handling of dental workforce shortages and oral health disparities.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans have partnered to create an early-assurance program to recruit students from Xavier into UAB's dental program, according to a Feb. 17 news release.

Private insurance covered more than half of patients treated at dental practices in 2020, according to new data from the American Dental Association.

A bill introduced to the California Legislature on Feb. 16 would expand treatments dental assistants are authorized to perform under the supervision of a dentist.

Schools and health systems nationwide are drawing up new programs to address the lack of diversity and shortages in the dentistry workforce.

Jacksonville (Fla.) University has launched a three-year program that allows students to earn a Master of Science in dentistry with a certificate in comprehensive oral implantology.

The dental industry must take an active role in combating the staffing shortage and make long-term investments that will shape the size and quality of the labor pool, Forbes reported Feb. 15.

The Hispanic Center for Excellence at UT Health San Antonio is taking steps to ensure patients see themselves represented in dentistry, ABC affiliate KSAT reported Feb. 13.

Wyoming has the fewest number of active dentists with other specialties, seven, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

California has the most periodontists in the nation, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

California has more than 1,000 orthodontists, the most of any state, according to a recent ranking by the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

Vermont has the fewest pedodontists in the nation, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

There are 5,668 active oral surgeons in the U.S., with California having the most at 637, according to a recent ranking by the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

Nationwide, a total of 188,074 U.S. dentists are actively practicing, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

California has the most endodontists of any U.S. state, while Wyoming has the fewest, according to a recent ranking by the Kaiser Family Foundation.