The nationwide lack of dental hygienists is forcing patients in Virginia to have to wait as long as 14 months for a routine cleaning, according to a Feb. 22 report by WWBT.
Staffing Issues
Dental laboratory technician positions are expected to see -4.5% growth through 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is the only medical technician position projected to experience negative growth in that span.
Rhode Island dentists are predicting a staffing "superstorm" in the state driven by several factors, The Providence Journal reported Feb. 20.
Dental practices in the U.S. created more than 2.4 million jobs in 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association.
Here are four states that have created and passed legislation to combat staffing issues and shortages in the dental industry that Becker's has reported on since Jan. 29:
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More than 140 organizations and individuals are lobbying the Florida Legislature to pass two bills that would authorize dental therapists in the state.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill that expands the ability to practice as a dental hygienist under the supervision of a dentist.
The number of projected jobs for dentists is expected to be much lower than other healthcare occupations, with the employment change between 2022 and 2032 projected to increase 6,800, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Wisconsin recently became the 14th state to authorize dental therapists to treat patients, and several other states could soon do the same.
At Heartland Dental, our mission is clear: we stand shoulder to shoulder with supported doctors and their teams to deliver the highest quality dental care and experiences to the communities we serve.