Lisa Teel, DDS, of Brookfield-based Meridian Endodontics, Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, said the shortage of professionals is causing longer wait times for patients. Dental practices are also seeing an uptick in emergency cases.
Patrick Tepe, DDS, of Associated Dentists’ Verona office, told the news station dental hygiene training programs are limited, with only a handful of accredited programs in the state. Representatives from the Wisconsin Dental Association have also stressed the need for more technical training programs.
Recruitment of dental assistants and hygienists continues to be a challenge for dental practices nationwide. A recent ADA poll found that 34.9 percent of dentists were recruiting hygienists and 35.8 percent were recruiting dental assistants. About 80 percent of dentists described recruiting dental hygienists as “extremely challenging,” while 57 percent described hiring dental assistants as “extremely challenging.”
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