The practice has had several open hygienist positions since June, but has not been receiving applications, according to Kristy Hixon, Southern Smiles’ office manager.
Many hygienists left the field during the COVID-19 pandemic, but another issue for local offices is that graduates from dental hygiene programs are moving to bigger cities due to the lack of incentives for staying in rural areas.
Ms. Hixon, who has been in the field since 2006, said that this is the first time that she has experienced any problem recruiting hygienists.
The shortage is forcing patients to wait up to 10 months to receive dental care at the practice, no matter what their oral health needs are, the report said.
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