More than half of dental hygienist positions at practices in the top 20 largest cities are open, according to a recent poll from the American Dental Association.
The data was collected as part of the ADA's monthly "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues" poll for May.
Nationally, 22 percent of dental hygiene positions were unfilled in dental practices in May.
Here is the percentage of open dental hygienist positions as a share of total hygienist positions in the practice:
By geography
Top 20 cities: 51 percent
Other urban: 19 percent
Suburban: 17 percent
Rural: 19 percent
By DSO affiliation
DSO affiliated: 24 percent
Non-DSO affiliated: 22 percent