The American Dental Hygienists’ Association issued an updated position statement on the dental hygiene workforce shortage, suggesting that it is “retention” rather than a “supply” crisis.
Here are four notes:
- The ADHA has pushed back against recent proposals from other dental groups, such as allowing foreign-trained dentists to practice as hygienists, expanding dental assistants’ scope of practice and accelerating alternative licensure pathways.
- These potential changes are short-term labor replacements, and can pose risks to patient safety, undermine professional standards and demoralize the hygienist workforce, according to the ADHA.
- Instead, the organization is pressing for more transparent compensation, competitive benefits, accountable workplace culture, professional autonomy, license portability, targeted pipeline growth and professional development for dental hygienists.
- “This updated statement is grounded in three consecutive years of data this profession helped deliver,” said Jennifer Hill, CEO of the ADHA. “The direction is clear and employers now have the evidence-backed guidance for meaningful changes that will support retention.”
Read the full updated position statement here.
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