In the face of staffing shortages, the dental industry has had to make efforts to incentivize the work to recruit and retain workers.
Five organizations tackling dental staffing shortages:
1. Cleveland-based MetroHealth System established a free dental assistant apprentice program set to launch in the spring. Those enrolled in the program will be paid the hospital's minimum wage and receive benefits.
2. Lincoln Technical Institute's Iselin, N.J., campus will offer a 12-month dental assisting program beginning in March.
3. Miami-based dental staffing startup TempMee raised $4.1 million in seed funding. TempMee connects dental hygienists with dental offices looking for temporary work. The company plans to use the money to grow and expand its platform into other dental professions and regions across the U.S.
4. Great Falls College Montana State University Dental Clinic has expanded its dental hygiene program to accept more students. The program can now accept 25 students instead of 18, according to 3 KRTV Great Falls.
5. West Los Angeles College and dental employer West Coast Dental partnered to create a free dental assistant training program. In three months, more than 40 students who participated in the program have been hired, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel.