Staffing Issues

There were 202,536 general practitioner dentists in the U.S. in 2022, an increase of 39,127 dentists since 2001, according to the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

There were 363,880 active dental assistants in the U.S. in 2022, an increase of 96,040 assistants since 2001, according to the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

There were 214,700 active dental hygienists in the U.S. in 2022, an increase of 64,820 hygienists since 2001, according to the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Here are four updates on dental therapy legislation that Becker's has reported on in 2023:

Wisconsin legislators recently introduced a bill that would allow dental therapists to practice in the state, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Nov. 6.

Dental assisting training and apprenticeship programs have been approved at the state level in Montana and Utah to help combat workforce shortages.

Dentists that are affiliated with DSOs are more concerned with staffing shortages than dentists that are not DSO-affiliated, according to a survey from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Approximately two-thirds of dental practices feel they have an adequate number of dental hygienists and dental assistants on staff, according to a survey from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The projected change in employment for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is expected to increase 5% by 2032, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The U.S. is projected to be short 36,517 dental professionals by 2031.